Javier Baez went deep, Cole Hamels pitched six strong innings and the Chicago Cubs beat the Kansas City Royals 3-1 on Monday night. Baez hit the first pitch from reliever Kevin McCarthy (4-4) in the sixth inning to center for his 25th home run, putting the Cubs ahead 2-1. Baez doubled in the eighth to score Jason Heyward, upping his RBI total to an NL-leading 88. Hamels (7-9) is 2-0 since the Cubs acquired him in a July 27 trade with the Texas Rangers. He allowed one run and seven hits. Alcides Escobar’s two-out second-inning single scored Rosell Herrera for the first earned run Hamels allowed at Kauffman Stadium in four career starts, covering 21 2/3 innings. The Royals have lost five straight and are tied with the Baltimore Orioles for the worst record in the majors at 34-78. Rain delayed the game 22 minutes in the fourth.
