Hendricks stumbles early, Cubs fall to Cardinals 5-3
ST. LOUIS (AP) - Kyle Hendricks chose to take a positive approach to the end of a record-setting run by the Chicago Cubs starting pitchers.
The right-hander allowed two runs in each of the first two innings and pitched just 5 1/3 in the Cubs' 5-3 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals on Wednesday.
Chicago starters had gotten through the sixth inning in 14 straight games to begin the season, a streak that matched the 1910 team for a franchise record.
"We'll just start a new one tomorrow," Hendricks said.
Still, the right-hander was disappointed that he couldn't continue the impressive string of starts.
"We're always trying to keep the line moving," Hendricks said. "But, I blew it. It's out the window."
Hendricks (1-2) gave up seven hits and four earned runs in his 84-pitch outing.
He surrendered two runs in each of the first two innings before settling down.
"He made some pitches that he elevated early that he'd like to have back," Chicago manager Joe Maddon said. "After the two two-run innings, he started spotting up pretty well."
St. Louis right-hander Carlos Martinez allowed just one run and three hits over seven innings and was helped by an over-the-wall catch in the first inning by Randal Grichuk that robbed Anthony Rizzo of a homer.
The Cardinals salvaged the final game of the three-game set after losing the first two.
Matt Holliday homered to get the Cardinals started in the first.
Chicago, the first team in the majors to 11 wins, had won three of its previous four.
Martinez (3-0) struck out five and walked three in recording his third quality start in three outings this season.
Grichuk's highlight-reel catch seemed to provide a perfect lift for Martinez.
"It's the second robbed homer I've gotten to," Grichuk said. "Definitely being the Cubs in a big game, it's probably my top one."
Rizzo said, "I simply hit it to the wrong part of the park."
The game was delayed 3 hours, 21 minutes by rain in the middle of the seventh. Grichuk, who jumped and reached over the wall with his glove, joked that he watched the replay of his grab 72 times during the stoppage.
Martinez seemed to get better as the game went along, retiring the last six batters he faced.
"He had more of a feel than straight power," St. Louis manager Mike Matheny said.
Martinez also added a run-scoring hit in the second to push the lead to 4-0.
Trevor Rosenthal got his fourth save by striking out the side in the ninth. It was his 100th career save.
Yadier Molina pushed the lead to 5-3 with an RBI single in the eighth off reliever Adam Warren.
The Cubs are 7-2 on the road and have outscored their opponents by 43 runs this season, the largest differential in the majors.
Maddon was pleased with the way his team battled back from 4-1 down to get to within one after the lengthy delay.
"I was really impressed with the way we went about our business," Maddon said. "They were chirpy in the clubhouse the whole time."
Rizzo hit a solo home run in the fourth and also drove in a run in the eighth.
"I got a couple knocks today, but we didn't come up with the win," Rizzo said.
BREAKING OUT
St. Louis outfielder Stephen Piscotty broke out of an 0-for-10 slump with a double in the first inning.
TRYING TO CHANGE THE TREND
Chicago, which won two of three against St. Louis, is looking to capture the season series for the first time since 2010.
UP NEXT:
Cubs: RHP Jake Arrieta (3-0, 1.23) will open a four-game series at Cincinnati against LHP Brandon Finnegan (1-0, 2.04) on Thursday. Arrieta has recorded three straight quality starts to begin the season.