Hendricks gets little support in 4-1 loss
With the talk of a bullpen start in the playoffs, Kyle Hendricks did his best to say "no-no" Wednesday night at Wrigley Field.
Hendricks took a no-hitter into the fifth, retiring the first 14 Milwaukee hitters before giving up an infield single. Unfortunately for Hendricks, the Cubs' bats went quiet and his solid start went for naught in a 4-1 loss in front of 37,559.
With elite arms at the top of the pitching staff, a dangerous and deep lineup that has scored the most runs in baseball since August 31 and a strong bullpen, there's not many questions for the Cubs as they get ready for postseason play.
The Nos. 3 and 4 starters have been the exception.
Jason Hammel and Hendricks entered Wednesday with ERAs of 3.79 and 4.22, respectively. Those numbers jump to 5.43 and 5.29 since the all-star break.
Their struggles have forced Cubs manager Joe Maddon to consider other options, including a so-called bullpen start that worked in Saturday's victory over St. Louis.
"We've seen how good they both can be," Maddon said. "I don't think either one is hurt, either is overextended. They should be in pretty good shape right now. It's about going out and executing pitches and the game plan. Believe me, I have a lot faith."
Hendricks stated his case for a postseason start, striking out eight, walking none and allowing 4 hits.
"That felt so much better," Hendricks said. "It didn't work out for us, but personally I can take some good things from that one tonight.
"My fastball command started out pretty good and that helped me find my lane which I've been searching for. Once I got that going and the changeup was in that same path and when I'm in that same path I get the right action with it. Everything was good tonight."
Hendricks struck out the first two hitters in the fifth before Jean Segura reached on an infield single. Segura stole second and barely beat Kyle Schwarber's throw from left field for the first run.
"He threw the ball really well," Maddon said of Hendricks. "Good life on the fastball. Changeup was outstanding. Tonight was the kind of game we saw more of early in the season."
While Hendricks handcuffed the Brewers, the Cubs couldn't do much more against Milwaukee starter Zach Davies, just 1-2 with a 6.00 ERA before Wednesday. They didn't score until Jorge Soler's home run in the seventh, the first time in Soler's career he has homered in back-to-back games.
The Brewers chased Hendricks in the seventh on Adam Lind's double and Khris Davis' RBI single. Reliever Justin Grimm struggled, but Schwarber's sprawling catch in the left-center gap and Kris Bryant's stab at third prevented a bigger inning.
"Great catch, great angle on it," Maddon said. "He's done a nice job in left field."