Hendricks better, but not good enough in Cubs’ loss to Marlins
This is past the point of being awkward.
The Cubs have been patient with veteran pitcher Kyle Hendricks, the only player left on the roster from the 2016 World Series team. They've been searching for signs he's turned the corner and figured out what's been going wrong.
There were some positive signs Sunday, but not enough. Hendricks allowed 4 runs in 4 innings and the Cubs lost 6-3 to Miami at Wrigley Field. They split the four-game series with the Marlins, who arrived in town with a 4-15 record.
“I thought there were some positive signs,” manager Craig Counsell said. “There were no walks, there were 5 strikeouts. But we need better results, frankly.”
Hendricks has been a magician for the past decade, producing mostly excellent results in a high-velocity era of pitching, despite throwing a fastball that rarely hits 90 miles per hour.
It is possible Hendricks' style of pitching just doesn't work anymore. For now, though, the plan is to keep trying.
“Honestly, I'd rather just be back out there tomorrow, pitch again tomorrow,” Hendricks said. “You want to just do it more, get more reps and just get past this as quick as possible.”
Technically, this was Hendricks' best start of the season. He allowed at least 5 earned runs in his first four starts and 7 in his last two. His season ERA is still an alarming 12.00.
Things were going OK until the fourth inning, when the Marlins collected 4 straight singles to open the frame. Mike Tauchman nearly saved a run by turning one of those singles into a force play at second, but the call was overturned by replay.
“Just got beat like five pitches in a row there, first-pitch hunting, mostly fastballs there,” Hendricks said. “But still executed a lot mentally, more aggressive, on the glove, just put us in bad a spot again. We had to win that game, take that series.
“A lot of disappointments, but I've got to focus on the positives, the mental approach that I took out there, and executing on the glove was better.”
In the second inning, Miami's Jesus Sanchez sent a prodigious 460-foot blast to center field, landing on the barrier between the seats and batters' eye. According to StatCast, it was the third longest home run in MLB this season, behind Mike Trout (473 feet) and Ketel Marte (461).
By executing on the glove, Hendricks basically means he was hitting the targets. He talked about listening to catcher Miguel Amaya's suggestions — a change in strategy from Hendricks calling his own pitches last season.
“Mechanics feel good,” he said. “It's more intent-based. It comes mentally, when I'm locked on the glove and aggressive, the mechanics sync up, they're on time. When the thoughts kind of just aren't like that, I'm missing. But today, a lot more aggressive, a lot on the glove, bad contact, limiting slug for the most part. Just that one pitch (to Sanchez).”
The Cubs offense didn't do much to help the cause, leaving nine runners on base. Three times the Cubs put the leadoff man on second base and didn't score. Nico Hoerner stayed hot, with 2 doubles among 3 hits.
Before the game, Counsell said Adbert Alzolay would not be the closer, after recording his fourth blown-save of the season Saturday. The game never got to that point, but Counsell did send Alzolay to the mound to work a perfect eight inning on Sunday.
“I'm glad we could get him right back out there and just build on positives from the outing,” Counsell said. “I think that's what's important at this point. I don't think you flip that overnight, but you just build on positives and keep building and keep adding good things.”
Before the game, Justin Steele threw off the mound at Wrigley. He's been sidelined since opening day with a hamstring strain. Counsell said the next step will be extended game action in Arizona on Friday. When Steele is ready to return, the Cubs may have to make a difficult decision on Hendricks.
Ian Happ, who missed the past two days with hamstring tightness, said he could have helped if needed Sunday and hopes to be back in the lineup Tuesday against Houston.
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