Hendricks takes no-hitter into 8th as Cubs shutout Giants |
SAN FRANCISCO - Throughout Kyle Hendricks ' year run with the Chicago Cubs (28-36), he has had the tendency to have great games on the mound, and boy, has there been plenty of those great games. Facing off against the San Francisco Giants (32-32) at Oracle Park on Saturday, it was another vintage performance from the Professor as the right-hander flirted with a no-hitter while the young guns provided the offense in a 4-0 victory.
Hendricks was brilliant on the mound and earned his first win nearly a year after his 2022 season was cut short due to a shoulder injury requiring surgery. Hendricks wasn't overpowering by any means, but when you are as locked in as he was on Saturday, you don't have to be, as he was in complete control throughout. Hendricks gave the Cubs eight shutout innings of one-hit, three-strikeout baseball, with the lone hit coming in the eighth inning. Regarding the Giants, Gabe Kapler went with a different approach as John Brebbia was called on to be the opener before he gave way to Jakob Junis and Sean Manaea. Apart from Junis, who surrendered all four runs, the Giant's pitching was equally as good, with Manaea striking out five in 4 1/3 hitless innings. Although the Cubs came away with another win to take the series, their offense is still a concern, as they tallied just five hits in the win. Eventually, they will need to start hitting the ball, as their excellent starting pitching will cool down eventually. Through two innings, the only baserunner of the game was a Michael Conforto walk as both pitchers were dialed in. Once the third inning started and Junis came on, the young guns carried the load, with Matt Mervis leading off the top of the third with a solo shot to put the Cubs up 1-0. Little did anyone know that homer would be all the offense the Cubs would need with Hendricks on the mission he was on. Whenever it comes to a no-hitter, there is always some luck involved, and Mike Tauchman provided that luck for the Professor as he laid out to make an incredible catch on the warning track. That was the Giant's lone opportunity for a hit most of the game, so seeing a play like that shows you how dialed in Hendricks was. Moving to the fourth, it became the Christopher Morel show as he ended a long homerless drought with a solo shot to double the lead to 2-0. For Morel, that was not only his 10th homer of the season, but it could be the hit he needed to kick him out of the lengthy funk he was in. Morel was just getting started as he continued his already good game in the fifth with another massive hit. After Nick Madrigal reached base with a one-out walk, Tauchman came through with a double as the new-look David Ross lineup was off and running. In danger of stranding a pair of runners on base after Nico Hoerner struck out, Morel came through with a clutch RBI knock and brought home both runners to make things 4-0 in favor of the Cubs. Not only was that hit crucial to the final result, but that was the final hit of the game for the Cubs as Manaea came in and dominated the rest of the way. As the game rolled on, Hendricks continued to keep the Giants hitless, although they were starting to get much better looks against him once the sixth inning rolled around. Looking to finish what he started, Hendricks retired the first two batters he faced in the eight, only to have Mitch Haniger come through with a double to end the potential no-hit bid. Hendricks didn't let that phase him as he finished off the eighth inning which happened to be the final inning for him in the game. Needing three outs to pick up a rare series win in San Francisco, it was time for Julian Merryweather to take the mound as he continued his impressive run. After posting an ERA north of 8.00 in April, Merryweather is starting to become one of the more trusted relievers in the pen as he retired the side in order to close out the win and lowered his ERA to 3.62 as the Cubs take the first two from the Giants to grab a series win. The Cubs will go for the sweep on Sunday when they turn to Hayden Wesneski as he continues to fill the void in the rotation while Justin Steele recovers from his injury. With a win, the Cubs would finish this trip with a 5-5 record which would have to be considered a win. "You realize pretty early what you're doing."
Kyle Hendricks following the longest no-hit bid in MLB this season 🔥 pic.twitter.com/CWYrO5IuDZ
"He's the same dude no matter what."
— Marquee Sports Network (@WatchMarquee) June 11, 2023
David Ross on Kyle Hendricks' competitive approach. pic.twitter.com/bGFRhABehb
