Hendricks keys surging Cubs
Cubs starter Kyle Hendricks had three hits,
CINCINNATI — Kyle Hendricks had three hits, including a two-run double, and pitched into the ninth inning to lead the surging Cubs over the Reds 3-1 Tuesday night.
The Cubs are 10-2 in May, their best start to the month since 1977. They have won 22 of 28 for the NL’s best record at 25-14.
Hendricks (3-4) has found his stride in May, winning all three starts while allowing only one earned run. He gave up a pair of singles and Joey Votto’s homer in the fourth inning, but those were the Reds’ only hits. He left after walking Nick Senzel to open the ninth. Steve Cishek got the last two outs for his third save in four chances.
Hendricks started his May surge with an 81pitch, 4-0 complete game win over the Cardinals and followed it by allowing one unearned run in eight innings of a win over the Marlins.
His RBI double put the Cubs in line for yet another win over the Reds. The liner over Senzel’s head in center field — only his second hit of the season — made it 2-0 in the second. He added two more singles and lined out.
The Cubs are 52-25 against the Reds over the last five seasons, the best mark by any team against a division foe.
Willson Contreras had a sacrifice fly off Tanner Roark (3-2) for the Cubs’ other run. Kris Bryant had three hits and extended his career-best streak to 23 consecutive games reaching base safely.
Javier Baez singled twice and extended his hitting streak to a careerhigh 12 games, the longest by a Cub this season.
Dodgers: LHP Julio Urias was placed on administrative leave by MLB following his arrest for investigation of misdemeanor domestic battery. Urias, 22, was taken into custody Monday night in the parking lot of a shopping mall, Los Angeles police said. No details were released. MLB subsequently placed Urias on administrative leave while it looks into his arrest. The leave was effective Tuesday and can last up to seven days. In previous MLB investigations, the length of the administrative leave has frequently been extended while the probe continues.
Mariners: RHP Felix Hernandez is expected to miss four to six weeks after being diagnosed with a grade 1 lat strain in his right side. The 2010 AL Cy Young Award winner and six-time All-Star was placed on the 10-day injured list Sunday. He originally was diagnosed as having a shoulder strain. An MRI later revealed the extent of the injury. Hernandez, 33, is 1-4 with a 6.52 ERA in eight starts this season.
Mets: 2B Jed Lowrie will be out a least another few weeks after suffering a slight hamstring strain during his rehab stint at Triple-A Syracuse. Lowrie, 35, hasn’t played for the Mets yet because of a sprained left knee capsule. He signed a two-year, $20 million contract with the team in January, following an All-Star season with the A’s in which he batted .267 with 23 HRs and 99 RBIs. Lowrie will be re-evaluated in two weeks.
Brewers: 3B Travis Shaw was placed on the IL with a right wrist strain, and 2B Keston Hiura was called up from Triple-A San Antonio and made his major league debut against the Phillies. There was no timetable yet for Shaw’s return. He was hitting just .163 with four HRs, eight RBIs and 50 strikeouts. Hiura, 22, the Brewers’ top prospect, was hitting .333 with 11 HRs and 26 RBIs in 37 games at Triple A. Mike Moustakas shifted to third base against the Phillies.
Indians: Jordan Luplow hit two HRs, Carlos Carrasco cruised through seven innings and the Indians beat the White Sox 9-0 in Cleveland. Roberto Perez, Jake Bauers and Jose Ramirez also hit HRs against Manny Banuelos and Josh Osich to end the White Sox’s three-game winning streak. Luplow has hit all four of his HRs this season against the White Sox and three off Banuelos. Carrasco (4-3) scattered six singles and struck out six, while walking none.
Also: An attorney for former pitcher John Wetteland said his client is stunned by and innocent of charges accusing him of child sex abuse. Attorney Derek Adame commented Monday after Wetteland attended an arraignment hearing in Denton County, Texas. Wetteland, 52, and his wife didn’t speak to reporters. Police charged Wetteland in January with continuous sex abuse of a child, and a Texas grand jury indicted him in March on three counts of the same charge. Wetteland played for four teams. He was named World Series MVP in 1996 with the Yankees and retired in 2000 after four seasons with the Rangers.