Since starting the season with a 2-7 road trip, the Cubs have gone 7-2, putting their record at 9-9. Over this past week, Cubs starting pitchers have given up only 2 earned runs, 1 homer, and issued 6 walks while striking out a combined total of 34 batter, including the 11 Hendricks added to the total yesterday. Meanwhile, Cubs relief corps has pitched 9 innings and only given up 1 run. Yes, most of these numbers are coming from a series against the Marlins, who, at 5-15, are literally the worst team in the league, but hey! Every good comeback story has to start somewhere! Let’s talk about Kyle Hendricks excellent outting yesterday.
Out of the gate, Hendricks looked different. More “on”. Like he had finally found command of his not very fast fastball, which generally sits around 89 mph. He issued a walk in the first to D-Back’s third baseman, Eduardo Escobar, but ball 4 could have easily been called strike 2. The one out walk wouldnt amount to much, though, as Escobar quickly tested Contreras’ arm, and failed, when he tried stealing second. A strong throw from Willy was caught by Baez, who laid down his typical lightening fast tag. Escobar never stood a chance. Hendricks ended the first shortly thereafter with a strike to Peralta that he literally did not see coming, as he stood in the box and watched the pitch curve back over the plate for strike 3.
Hendricks’ no hitter was over in the second when catcher Christian Walker hit a one out single to center, but Hendricks struck out the next two to end the top of the second.
Hendricks worked quickly and efficiently all afternoon. His day ended after the 7th inning, where he got his 11th strikeout of the day. Just prior to that 11th K, there was a bit of a scary moment when Walker scalded a comebacker that caught Kyle in the shin before careening towards third base. Hendricks brushed off manager Joe Maddon and proved he was fine by striking out the next batter, but you better believe that puppy left a good bruise. Hendricks final line on the day: 7.0 innings pitched, 3 hits, 0 runs/earned runs, 2 walks, and a very lovely 11 strikeouts.
Diamondbacks rookie starter Merrill Kelly, did not have nearly as nice of a day as Hendricks. From almost the start of the game, it was evident that, as typical for an April game inside of Wrigley, the wind would play a big role. If you believe theres “magic in the old scoreboard” (as Eddie Vedder suggests in “Someday We’ll Go All The Way”), then you wont be surprised at the focus pocus tricks the wind played on the Diamondbacks all game.
After getting Descalso to groundout to start the first, Kelly *should* have had Bryant out two seperate time. Both times, Bryant popped up into what’s normally an easy catch in foul ground territory. Both times, though, the wind got ahold of the ball and sent it into the stands. Bryant’s at bat would become unofficial as he eventually drew the walk, though the wind would help him in better ways before too long. Rizzo didnt have an official st bat, either, as he stood in the box and took 4 pitches outside the zone before taking his free base. With 2 on, 1 out, the heart of the order coming up and the wind working in the Cubs batters favor, it was easy to believe that some crooked numbers would get put up in the first. Unfortunately, they did not. Baez looked like his old self when he swung at a down and away slider and Contreras ended the inning by grounding out. We would have to wait a whole one more inning for those crooked numbers, but the Cubs offense made Kelly work hard and throw 33 pitches to get out of the first.
When Heyward, Bote, and Schwarber all singled to start put the bottom of the second, Hendricks came up to bat with the bases loaded. He laid down a bunt that might have been fine if he were only advancing runners a base, but with the bases loaded, Heyward had to come home. Hendricks bunt didn’t go too far passed the home plate and Heyward was put on the force out even before he reached home plate. Fortunately for the Cubs, Walker’s throw hit Hendricks, not the first baseman, so Hendricks was safe at first, instead of bunting into a double play. Descalso struck out and so, with two outs, everybody was running when Bryant hit what should have been an easy catch to shallow center. With four fielders in the area, it seemed certain the Cubs would waste a bases loaded, nobody out situation. Just then, the wind, again, got ahold of Bryant’s hit and somehow, nobody was able to make the catch! Bryant ended up with a 2 run double and the Cubs were up 2-0. With the way Hendricks was pitching, that would be enough. The Cubs tacked on 3 more runs in the game, two of which coming in the 6th when Contreras hit a triple.
Cubs look to continue their winning streak when Yu Darvish takes on Zack Grienke today at 2:20 eastern, 1:20 (local) central.
