PROOF THAT IT’S POSSIBLE
Cubs can look at Hendricks-led win Monday as a template for taking on big dogs
SAN DIEGO — Three words from Cubs manager David Ross rang especially true after Kyle Hendricks’ latest start:
“We needed that.”
The Cubs were on a five-game losing streak entering Monday. Beyond the skid, they had lost eight of their last nine games, outscored 62-22 in that span.
Then Hendricks came one out short of a complete game against the Padres, tossing 8 ⅔ scoreless innings in a 6-0 win to open a three-game series.
The Cubs had just been swept in a lopsided series against the Dodgers that shined a spotlight on the gap between them and the National League’s top teams. The win Monday served as a blueprint — less than a year after a massive sell-off at the trade deadline — for them to at least compete against championship-caliber teams, even if their own championship window isn’t open.
Hendricks was coming out of an inconsistent April in which he was hampered on and off by the same mechanical issues that characterized his 2021 season, the worst of his career. Not only did he finally put together back-toback strong starts, but he had the best performance of any Cubs pitcher this season.
“It’s pitching and defense — that’s how you win ballgames,” he said. “So, me going out and attacking with my fastball, coming right out [against] guys, getting some quick outs, easy outs, and then some great plays behind me, that’s always a good formula. We just need some more of that.”
The offense didn’t do anything flashy, but it strung together hits to build up a lead bit by bit. The Cubs scored on a double by Seiya Suzuki in the first inning, a single by Ian Happ in the fourth, a double-play ground out by Suzuki in the fifth and an error in the seventh.
They tacked on two more runs in the eighth, showing some aggressive base-running. With runners on first and third, Happ stretched a base hit into an RBI double, sliding into second base head-first. Nico Hoerner took advantage of the commotion at second to score the second run of the frame and give the Cubs a six-run lead.
The defense was solid, highlighted by center fielder Jason Heyward sprinting in and diving for the catch on a short line drive to end the seventh.
The win, however, started with Hendricks.
“It’s no surprise he’s not going to extremely overpower people,” catcher Yan Gomes said.
“But he’s going to be able to keep guys off balance with anything. So we’re not looking for the perfect pitches — we’re just looking for the quality pitches that are working in that certain scenario.”
Hendricks said Ross was “a little on the fence” about sending him out for the ninth inning. Although he’d only allowed three hits, he’d already thrown 99 pitches. But Hendricks was apparently convincing.
“He’s got all the trust in the world in me,” Hendricks said, “and I appreciate it so much.”
Said Ross: “The eighth was so clean, it just made a lot of sense to send him back out.”
Ross had reliever Scott Effross warm up to face the Padres’ Manny Machado, giving Hendricks a chance to finish the game if he retired the first three batters in a row. But with fatigue setting in, he issued his first walk of the game to Jake Cronenworth, the second batter.
“I think I wanted it too bad,” Hoerner joked about the possibility of a completegame shutout. “Nick [Madrigal] and I were looking at each other really excited.”
Hoerner conceded, however, that pulling Hendricks before the last out was the right call. He left the game with his pitch count at 116. Cubs fans in the stands booed the decision before giving him a standing ovation.