KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Kevin Gausman provided exactly what the Cubs hoped for when they acquired him from the Blue Jays last weekend, pitching seven sharp innings in his Chicago debut in a 6-4 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Friday night.
The 35-year-old right-hander gave up an RBI single to Isaac Collins in the first inning and Carter Jensen's homer in the fifth, but he otherwise held Kansas City in check. Gausman (6-10) retired 12 of 13 at one point and ended up allowing two runs on four hits and a walk.
Caleb Thielbar allowed a pair of runs in the eighth for the Cubs before Trent Thornton escaped the jam, getting Nick Loftin to fly out with the tying run on first base. Jacob Webb breezed through the ninth for his seventh save.
The Cubs gave Gausman the support he needed in the second, when Seiya Suzuki followed Pete Crow-Armstrong's RBI single with a two-run single of his own. Chicago wound up plating four runs off Daniel Lynch IV (4-3), who had pitched out of the bullpen all season but was getting the start for a Kansas City rotation waylaid by injuries.
Lynch only lasted 1 2/3 innings, striking out two and walking two, before Royals manager Matt Quatraro went to his bullpen.
Alex Bregman added an RBI single in the seventh for Chicago. Pedro Ramirez went deep in the eighth.
Gausman won his final start for Toronto last Saturday, allowing just one run while pitching into the sixth inning against St. Louis. But he had otherwise struggled the past few weeks, going 1-5 with a 5.17 ERA in his final seven starts for the Blue Jays.
RHP Clay Holmes (4-4, 2.39 ERA) makes his Cubs debut Saturday night following his trade from the Mets. It also will be his first start since May 15, when he fractured his right fibula on a sharp liner by the Yankees' Spencer Jones.
RHP Seth Lugo (4-7, 4.41) tries to bounce back from a dismal start against the Rockies when he takes the mound for Kansas City.
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Chicago Cubs' Pedro Ramírez (75) runs home to score on a two-run single hit by Pete Crow-Armstrong during the second inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals, Friday, Aug. 7, 2026, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Chicago Cubs' Pete Crow-Armstrong steals second base during the second inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals, Friday, Aug. 7, 2026, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Kevin Gausman throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals, Friday, Aug. 7, 2026, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
WASHINGTON (AP) — Daylen Lile and Harry Ford homered for Washington, and the Nationals beat the Cincinnati Reds 5-3 on Friday night for just their second win in the last 10 games.
Eugenio Suárez, Matt McLain and Elly De La Cruz went deep for the Reds, but they were all solo shots and De La Cruz also made a crucial first-inning error at shortstop. Cincinnati lost for only the second time in eight games.
Cade Cavalli (9-5) allowed the three Cincinnati homers but managed his sixth straight quality start. He yielded seven hits and two walks in six-plus innings, striking out eight. The right-hander was pulled in the sixth after a single, a stolen base and then a slow roller that turned into another single.
Yovanny Cruz came on and got a strikeout before issuing a walk. Sal Stewart then bounced into a double play with the bases loaded. Stewart, who also hit into a double play in the fourth with runners on first and second, fired his helmet into the ground in frustration.
Orlando Ribalta worked the eighth and Clayton Beeter finished for his 12th save.
With a runner on first and one out in the first, Brady House hit a sharp grounder toward De La Cruz. The Cincinnati shortstop couldn't handle it, and instead of an inning-ending double play, the error left runners on first and third.
Lile followed with his 15th homer to give Washington a 3-0 lead.
The Reds tied it by the third. Suárez homered in the second, then McLain and De La Cruz hit back-to-back solo shots an inning later.
Ford put Washington back ahead with a two-run drive off Julian Garcia (2-3).
In a bullpen game, Chase Petty made his first start for Cincinnati since May 23. The first pitch was delayed 62 minutes due to the threat of rain.
Washington's CJ Abrams leads the major leagues with 88 RBIs, one more than Stewart. Neither drove in a run Friday.
Cincinnati's Héctor Rodríguez doubled in the fourth for his first career hit.
Nationals pitcher Zack Littell, designated for assignment earlier in the week, was given his unconditional release Friday.
All-Star Chase Burns (13-1) starts for the Reds on Saturday night against Andrew Alvarez (2-3) of the Nationals.
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
Cincinnati Reds' Eugenio Suárez, right, celebrates after his solo home run as he runs by Washington Nationals third baseman Brady House during the second inning of a baseball game, Friday, Aug. 7, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/John McDonnell)
Washington Nationals pitcher Cade Cavalli follows through during the first inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds, Friday, Aug. 7, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/John McDonnell)
Washington Nationals' Daylen Lile hits a three-run home run during the first inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds, Friday, Aug. 7, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/John McDonnell)
Cincinnati Reds shortstop Elly de la Cruz commits a fielding error on a ground ball hit by Washington Nationals' Brady House during the first inning of a baseball game, Friday, Aug. 7, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/John McDonnell)
