"We played well today, and then we broke down at the end," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said. "They showed why they went to the World Series last year, and we showed why we're not ready yet. We've got to get beyond that moment."
The Royals' bullpen is the best in the Majors, boasting a 1.85 ERA. The Cubs are ranked 22nd, and their weaknesses showed.
"We didn't make pitches," Maddon said. "We have to make pitches when it's necessary. We didn't do that. That put us in that particular bind. It was such a great game for 7 2/3 innings.