Chicago Cubs' Hendricks can't make it out of sixth
ST. LOUIS — It was a rare sight indeed at Busch Stadium.
No, the April shower that delayed the game between the Chicago Cubs and the St. Louis Cardinals for 3 hours and 21 minutes is common in these parts.
But a Cubs pitcher failing to go at least 6 innings? That hadn't happened this season until Wednesday.
No. 5 starter Kyle Hendricks made it through only 5⅓ innings and trailed 4-1 as the Cardinals attempted to salvage the third game of this series after the Cubs won the first two.
The long rain started as the Cardinals prepared to bat in the seventh inning. When play resumed, the Cubs made a game of it by scoring twice in the eighth.
But the Cardinals got one of those runs back in the bottom half and held on for a 5-3 victory.
Starting pitching has been a real strength for a Cubs team that is still trying to find its stride at the plate.
On Tuesday, Jason Hammel went 6 innings in a 2-1 Cubs victory. It marked the 14th straight game the Cubs had gotten a start of at least 6 innings, something the franchise hadn't accomplished since the 1910 pitchers went 14 straight to start the year.
“The two things that can help the bullpen the most are the starters going deep and spreading these games out,” general manager Jed Hoyer said. “Spread these games out and stay away from using the same relievers over and over. It just helps you later in the season. Keeping bullpen arms healthy is a challenge.
“I think we have a deep bullpen, and Joe (manager Maddon) does a great job of doing that, but the more we can get 6-7 innings and shorten up the number of outs we have to get and reducing that stress in those outings, the better for later in the season.
“So far this has been terrific.”
The Cardinals touched Hendricks for a pair of runs in each of the first two innings. In the first, Stephen Piscotty doubled with one out and rode home on Matt Holliday's home run.
Yadier Molina led off the second with a double and went to third on a single by Kolten Wong. A wild pitch scored Molina, and a single by Aledmys Diaz brought Wong home.
The Cubs scored in the fourth, when Anthony Rizzo led off with a home run to right field against Cardinals starter Carlos Martinez.
It was Rizzo's fourth homer of the season and the third time this year he picked on a first pitch and sent it out of the park. Rizzo also just missed a 2-run homer in the first inning when his blast was caught just above the wall by Randal Grichuk.
'Try Not to Suck' T-shirts banned in St. Louis?
Cubs manager Joe Maddon is very active in charitable efforts. After each Friday home game, he reads a public-service announcement about a group he and/or the Cubs is trying to help.
This year Maddon has come up with T-shirts that read, “Try Not to Suck.” He and Cubs players wear them, and the shirts can be purchased, with a portion of proceeds going to Maddon's Respect 90 foundation and Cubs charities.
That seems all well and good. However, Maddon heard stories in St. Louis of some fans wearing the shirts being denied entry to Busch Stadium because the shirts were deemed to be “offensive.” Some fans, however, did make it into the ballpark sporting the shirts.
“I find it humorous, actually,” Maddon said. “I didn't think it was unilaterally done by each usher, determining this shirt was offensive. I'd like to know why they're offensive in any way, shape or form. Whoever thinks they're offensive has a dirty mind.”
Shirts can be ordered at korkedbaseball.com.
Maddon hails Szczur:
Joe Maddon is liking the early look of backup outfielder Matt Szczur. The 26-year-old Szczur made the club out of spring training.
He entered Wednesday 5-for-15 with a double, a home run, 3 walks and 6 runs. Szczur has started three games, and Maddon will use him as a pinch hitter and as a defensive replacement.
“I don't think people have really recognized how good of a job he's been doing,” Maddon said. “I think that he's truly arrived at that Stage 3 major-league baseball player: 'I belong here. I can do this.' I see a different level of comfort about his game. And I'm liking that. I think he's arrived. He should stay up here a long time.
“Given the chance to play on a more consistent basis, I think you would see something out of this guy right now because whatever you saw in Triple-A, I think you have a chance to see it here now, given opportunity.”
• Follow Bruce on Twitter @BruceMiles2112.
Scouting report
Chicago Cubs vs. Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park
TV: Comcast SportsNet Thursday and Saturday; WGN Friday and Sunday
Radio: WSCR 670-AM
Pitching matchups: The Cubs' Jake Arrieta (3-0) vs. Brandon Finnegan (1-0) Thursday at 6:10 p.m.; Jon Lester (1-1) vs. Jon Moscot (0-0) Friday at 6:10 p.m.; John Lackey (3-0) vs. Dan Straily (0-0) Saturday at 6:10 p.m.; Jason Hammel (2-0) vs. Alfredo Simon (0-1) Sunday at 12:10 p.m.
At a glance: The Cubs swept the Reds at Wrigley Field April 11-14. The Reds have been holding their own in a tough division. Joey Votto is off to a slow start for the Reds. He took a .196 batting average into Wednesday's game against the Rockies. Brandon Phillips, Jay Bruce and Eugenio Suarez have been carrying the Cincinnati offense. The Cubs were able to beat up the Reds' bullpen last week. Even though the Cubs have not been on a hitting tear, they entered Wednesday with a run differential of plus-46, best in the majors. One reason is that the Cubs went into Wednesday leading the big leagues in walks taken by their batters (70).
Next: Milwaukee Brewers at Wrigley Field, Tuesday-Thursday
— Bruce Miles