KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Chicago Cubs’ grind through 17 consecutive games without an off day ended on a high note.

The offense broke out against Kansas City Royals starter Randy Dobnak and the bullpen, and left-hander Matthew Boyd allowed just two runs over seven innings in a 10-2 victory to secure the series victory. The Cubs (69-50) enter Monday’s off day — their first since July 23 — with a 12-5 mark over the 17-game stretch.

The lack of off days required manager Craig Counsell to find ways to build in rest for their regulars. That meant Pete Crow-Armstrong was the designated hitter for a second consecutive game and the third time in five games as Counsell attempted to “recharge some batteries the best I can right now.”

The Cubs’ series win keeps them rolling. Their 35-16 (.686) mark since June 11 is second-best in the big leagues during that span behind the Boston Red Sox — after the Cubs had posted a majors-worst 7-22 stretch prior to this run.

“Our starters have performed exceptionally well, and that’s been the key to this thing,” Counsell said of playing 17 straight. “You don’t survive it without good starting pitching, and the number of quality starts, whether it be length or lack of runs given up, it’s been impressive for sure, and it’s got us through this, and it’s helped us win games. Because the length the starter is able to give you contributes to what happens the next day in the bullpen, and they’ve done a heck of a job.”

As the Cubs head into a much-needed off day Monday before finishing the trip with three games against the Washington Nationals, there are three takeaways from their series at Kauffman Stadium.

Rotation, led by Matthew Boyd, keeps delivering

For as much as injuries have tested the Cubs’ starting pitching depth and forced upgrades to be acquired at the trade deadline, their stronghold on the top National League wild-card spot can be attributed, in large part, to the rotation.

Boyd cruised through the first six innings Sunday and ultimately exited after seven with the Royals managing only two runs. In his seven starts since coming off the injured list July 7, Boyd owns a 2.35 ERA while pitching into the seventh inning in five of his last six outings.

“Any time you do that, it means you’re having some quick innings or you’re getting everybody out,” Counsell said. “So, he did both today.”

It hasn’t always looked great for the rotation this season through all the injuries they’ve battled, but during their stretch of 17-straight games, the Cubs’ starters posted a 2.90 ERA. It’s an especially notable effort given that 10 of those games were on the road and they faced the New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers at Wrigley Field in that span.

“Really can’t ask for much more,” Boyd said. “It was awesome. It’s a tough stretch, especially at this time of year with the heat and the weather and the competition. But guys responded to the task at hand each day, and that was really, really special. And it speaks to the quality of this group. I think our best baseball is still ahead of us.”

The Cubs’ rotation could get even tougher as right-handers Kevin Gausman (two runs in seven innings Friday) and Clay Holmes (four runs in four innings Saturday) get settled in with their new team.

Ian Happ busts out of slump in a big way

Ian Happ, riding an 0 for 22 stretch in Saturday, was stuck in one of the worst slumps of his career.

He entered that game with a .167/.286/.245 slash line and just one home run in his previous 30 games. Counsell had started limiting Happ’s exposure to left-handed pitchers with his struggles particularly pronounced from the right side of the plate.

Happ, though, finished the last two games of the series strong, slugging home runs on back-to-back days and finishing with five hits — two home runs, one double and three RBIs — in that stretch. The Cubs certainly will need more from the veteran left fielder in the last seven weeks of the season and into the playoffs, but the hope is his production the last two games against the Royals is a sign he’s getting on track.

“When you’re in a slump, you want results, you want a good swing,” Counsell said. “He had three balls on the screws (Saturday), so very good night. … Hopefully we’re getting the good Ian back and I know it’s been frustrating for him. But this is a good hitter. This is a guy that’s having a good year against right-handed pitching and he’s going to do good things for us.”

Miguel Amaya makes the most of limited playing time

There haven’t been many opportunities for catcher Miguel Amaya to settle in with regular at-bats this season.

With Carson Kelly getting the majority of playing time, Amaya has had to stay locked in offensively despite inconsistent at-bats. In his first start since Tuesday, Amaya collected two hits in Sunday’s win, including a three-run home run in the seventh to put the game away. The long ball snapped a 38-game home run drought for Amaya.

“I was happy for Miggy,” Counsell said. “He’s had a good offensive year, and when you don’t play that much and you play at the frequency Miggy’s playing, the offensive year he’s having, it’s a really good year, and then to get a big hit today and a home run on the board, I’m happy for him.”

Making his 47th start behind the plate Sunday, Amaya has made the most of his limited opportunities. His 107 wRC+ ranks seventh on the Cubs (minimum 150 plate appearances) while posting a fifth-best .349 on-base percentage.

“It’s not easy not being playing every day, and then go out there and perform the right way,” Amaya said. “Just trying to stay locked in and do as much work as I can in the cages and on the field when we have batting practice. Staying on the same page with the hitting coaches, trying to keep consistency on the offensive side, but I’m a competitor. I’m going to go out there and compete every single pitch, every single at-bat, and thank God I’ve been having good results.”

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