Hendricks pitches 7-hitter as Cubs beat Marlins 5-0
CHICAGO (AP) - Jon Lester sought out Kyle Hendricks in the clubhouse, telling him the only thing that would have made his night better was if he had hit a solo homer for the game's only run.
"I did get a base knock," Hendricks reminded his teammate.
Hendricks did it all just when the Cubs needed him most, pitching a seven-hitter for his second career shutout and providing the Chicago's bullpen a needed breather in a 5-0 victory over the Miami Marlins on Monday night.
"He's a great team player and he's just a joy to be around," manager Joe Maddon said. "Then he goes and does that."
After a wild, 12-inning win a night earlier in which Maddon used 22 players, Hendricks (10-7) threw a career-high 123 pitches and lowered his ERA to 2.22, third-best in the majors. He allowed three walks and struck out five.
No bad for a guy pegged to be the No. 5 starter this season who reached double-digit wins for the first time in his career.
"This is definitely the best I've ever pitched, the most confident I've ever been, I think," Hendricks said. "It's just been a development all year long, using my other pitches. I used my curveball a lot today, especially toward the end of the game."
Anthony Rizzo finished a home run shy of the cycle and reached base five times and Addison Russell had a two-run single in the first off wild Marlins starter Adam Conley (7-6). The lefty walked six, one intentionally, and hit a batter while needing 97 pitches to get through four innings.
"It just snowballed by falling behind and not being able to execute early," Conley said.
Conley, who was 3-0 with a 1.82 ERA in five July outings, needed 65 pitches to get through two innings.
But the Cubs stranded nine runners in that span to keep the Marlins close. Then Hendricks drove in Willson Contreras with a grounder through a drawn-in infield off Dustin McGowan in the fifth.
Rizzo tripled and scored on Javier Baez's sacrifice fly in the sixth. Rizzo doubled in the first, singled in the eighth, drew a walk and was hit by a pitch in the Cubs' ninth shutout.
It marked the second time Hendricks came through with a depleted bullpen. He tossed 6 2/3 innings in a June victory at Cincinnati a night after a 15-inning win.
Maddon sent out Hendricks for the ninth despite being at 108 pitches.
"I actually felt really good," said the right-hander, who was working on five days' rest. "I think the last two or three innings I was making better pitches than I was in the beginning of the game."
Hendricks got help in his second complete game this season. Shortstop Rizzo barehanded a slow roller to get Conley with the bases loaded to end the second.
Center fielder Jason Heyward and second baseman Baez combined on a relay to throw out Derek Dietrich going for a triple in the fourth.
And Contreras threw out Dee Gordon stealing second in the fifth.
"We just played tremendous Gold Glove defense tonight," Maddon said. "We won that game because of our starting pitching and defense."
ICHIRO UPDATE
Marlins OF Ichiro Suzuki, two hits shy of 3,000, received a standing ovation when he pinch hit in the seventh. Suzuki lined a 1-0 pitch to Kris Bryant at third, leaving him in a 2-for-18 slump. Bryant threw to first for a double play.
Manager Don Mattingly hinted Ichiro may not start until Wednesday's series finale against RHP John Lackey. Ichiro's 37 hits off Lackey are his most vs. any pitcher.
LOSING REA
After trading injured RHP Colin Rea back to San Diego before the game, Mattingly suggested RHP David Phelps could fill the rotation spot.
ENTER SMITH
New Cubs RHP Joe Smith is expected to arrive Tuesday. The veteran reliever was acquired from the Angels before Monday's trade deadline for pitching prospect Jesus Castillo.
"A sidearm, groundball guy," GM Jed Hoyer said. "We don't have that look or that ability."
The Cubs also designated LHP Brian Matusz for assignment after his poor start Sunday and recalled RHP Spencer Patton from Triple-A Iowa.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Marlins: INF Justin Bour (ankle) had soreness after Sunday's minor league rehab game and took Monday off.
Cubs: Hoyer declined to predict a return date for OF Jorge Soler (hamstring), batting .115 in eight minor league rehab games.
UP NEXT
Marlins ace Jose Fernandez (12-5, 2.79 ERA) starts Tuesday night against Cubs RHP Jason Hammel (10-5, 3.23).