Tony Campana’s bunt single led to him scoring the go-ahead run on an error in the ninth inning to help the Cubs beat the Kansas City Royals 6-4 on Friday night.
With one out, Campana popped up a bunt against Aaron Crow (2-1) that Royals third baseman Mike Moustakas appeared to make a shoestring catch, but umpire Jeff Kellogg called it a hit, saying it touched the grass.
Moustakas and manager Ned Yost argued briefly. Moustakas said he made a mistake even though he thought it was an out. If Moustakas would have just thrown the ball to first, he might have gotten the speedy Campana anyway. Campana went to third on DJ LeMahieu’s single to right and came home when Kosuke Fukudome hit a bouncer that went off the glove of second baseman Chris Getz for an error. Starlin Castro added an RBI single that helped send the Royals to their sixth straight loss.
Bruce Chen, who came off the disabled list Friday and made his first start since May 5, left after six-plus innings, allowing four runs on eight hits, while walking two and striking out four. Cubs starter Ryan Dempster allowed four runs, two earned, on nine hits, while striking out four and walking one.
Francoeur hit a two-run homer in Kansas City’s three-run fourth inning that put the Royals up 4-3. It was his 10th home run but his first since May 22 against the Cardinals. Alex Gordon extended his hitting streak to 11 games.