Hendricks clunker adds to Cubs misery
As if things weren't bad enough for the Cubs, Kyle Hendricks turned in the worst start of his major league career in a dismal 17-4 loss to Milwaukee on Thursday at Wrigley Field.
The loss completed an 0-7 homestand for the Cubs against the White Sox and Brewers. But Hendricks had been pitching well. This result ended his personal 11-game win streak and his run of 16-straight starts without taking a loss.
Hendricks was asked if the Cubs' recent nose-dive contributed to the poor outing.
"Today, it was just a bad day for me honestly," Hendricks said. "I just made a lot of bad pitches, got predictable at times. Really just missed over the plate with too many pitches, which I haven't been doing lately.
"It's just one of those I've got to move on from. I'm preparing the exact same way. I've got to pick it up tomorrow. I've been feeling good lately so keep working on what I've been working on, but today just way too many bad pitches."
Hendricks allowed 9 earned runs, 11 hits and left in the fourth inning. His previous high for earned runs allowed was 7, which happened twice earlier this year.
Hendricks is a pitcher who went through the entire 2016 season without allowing more than 4 earned runs in a game.
"I saw more misses probably up in the zone today than I'd seen in a while," manager David Ross said. "It's hard for me to comment on his mindset but I would say with 100 percent of my heart, I know that Kyle is competing to his highest level every time he steps foot on the mound from everything I've seen and is passionate about that for sure."
Another potential distraction was saying goodbye to Jake Arrieta, who was released before Thursday's game. Arrieta was on the team when Hendricks was first called up from the minors in 2014.
"Really, really tough one, obviously," Hendricks said. "For me personally too, Jake was a guy, the moment I got called up he kind of took me under his wing a little bit, showed me the ropes, just taught me about the big leagues. So I owe him a ton just being comfortable with this environment, this organization.
"That run he went on (in 2015), it was the most fun to go out there and watch him pitch. You knew you were getting 8 to 9 innings of zero or 1-run baseball. It was unbelievable to watch every five days. Just everything he's given us an given me can never be replaced. It's going to be tough and we're definitely going to miss him."
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