Cubs' Hendricks still Cy Young-worthy despite loss to Brewers
By now, most baseball fans are savvy enough about stats to know that a pitchers' win-loss record shouldn't be the top consideration when it comes to voting for things like the Cy Young Award.
Chicago Cubs manager Joe Maddon wanted to pound that home again Sunday after his young starter, Kyle Hendricks, suffered the loss in a 3-1 defeat to the Milwaukee Brewers at Wrigley Field.
Hendricks worked 6 creditable innings giving up 2 second-inning runs and 6 hits. His record fell to 15-8 and his major-league-leading ERA ticked up from 2.03 to 2.09.
“There's a perfect example of, if you're going to vote, and the win-loss record, just using that as a benchmark,” said Maddon, whose team lost three of four to the Brewers and fell to 94-55 for the season. “Here's a guy, we have not supported him run wise a lot this year. Here's another great example today. He definitely pitched well enough to win. We only came up with 1 run.
“It's just unfortunate. He didn't have his best stuff, but 9 punchouts (strikeouts), 2 runs in 6, pretty good day.”
Hendricks had his personal six-decision winning streak snapped. In his last 6 losing decisions, the Cubs scored a grand total of 6 runs.
The Brewers scored both their runs against Hendricks on 4 singles in the second inning. The Cubs got their run in the sixth, when Tommy La Stella doubled home a run pinch-hitting for Hendricks. Chris Carter ended the scoring in the eighth with his 36th homer of the season, a drive to left off reliever Felix Pena.
Cubs hitters did little with Brewers starter Wily Peralta and the Milwaukee bullpen, going 0-for-10 with runners in scoring position.
Hendricks said he didn't have his best fastball command, but he battled through the start.
“You've got to throw it enough, or you've got to try to find it,” he said. “In my warm-ups, I tried to go out there and get it. I made enough good pitches. I pitched well enough. But it was definitely more of a battle. I tried to mix my changeup a lot more. I threw a couple curveballs in the dirt. There weren't too many opportunities for a strike with this lineup.”
The fact that Hendricks had to battle and still ended up with a quality start is a sign of how far he has come.
Cy Young voters will look at the end results, but how does Hendricks himself know that he's had a good year?
“The at-bats that are being put together against me,” he said. “The at-bats last year, I could tell so many more comfortable swings, better contact. Now, I can see it. Hitters are more off-balance. I know when I can go to a certain pitch. Getting weak contact most of the time. And I'm just making better pitches. Other than today, even with my fastball, being able to hit a spot, even when I need to.
“And even my secondary pitches. My curveball I'm throwing for strikes. Change-ups I can put in there for a strike when I need to. So kind of that overall game.”
Scouting report
Cubs vs. Cincinnati Reds at Wrigley Field
TV: Comcast SportsNet Monday and Tuesday; WGN Wednesday
Radio: WSCR 670-AM
Pitching matchups: The Cubs' Jason Hammel (14-9) vs. Tim Adleman (2-4) Monday; Jon Lester (17-4) vs. TBD Tuesday; John Lackey (9-8) vs. Robert Stephenson (2-1) Wednesday. All games 7:05 p.m.
At a glance: The Cubs are 10-3 against the Reds this season, 4-2 at Wrigley Field. Cincinnati is buried in last place in the NL Central. Joey Votto has enjoyed a resurgence second half for the Reds. After batting .252 before the all-star break, Votto entered Sunday with his season line up to .313/.428/.519 with 24 homers and 85 RBI. He entered Sunday having batted .401 since the break. Adam Duvall led the Reds with 31 homers and 92 RBI. Reds pitching ranked 13th in the NL Sunday with a 4.89 ERA. The Cubs entered the day first, at 3.12. Hammel is 9-1 with a 1.77 ERA at Wrigley Field this season, the second-best home mark in baseball.
Next: St. Louis Cardinals at Wrigley Field, Friday-Sunday
— Bruce Miles