Hendricks Pitches 7-Hitter As Cubs Beat Marlins 5-0
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CHICAGO (AP) — Kyle Hendricks pitched a seven-hitter for his second career shutout, providing the Chicago Cubs' bullpen a needed breather in a 5-0 victory over the Miami Marlins on Monday night.
After a wild, 12-inning win a night earlier in which manager Joe Maddon used 22 players, Hendricks (10-7) threw 123 pitches and lowered his ERA to 2.22, third-best in the majors. He allowed three walks and struck out five.
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.
The Cubs stranded nine runners in that span until 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 and was walked and hit by a pitch in the Cubs' ninth shutout of the season.
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.
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 with a perfect throw in the fifth.
It was a rough August debut for Conley, who was 3-0 with 1.82 ERA in five July outings. He had little command from the start and needed 65 pitches to get through two innings.
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), who has won three straight starts.
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