Kyle Hendricks' worst start of the year led to one of the Cubs' best wins: "Absolutely unbelievable"

PITTSBURGH — It looked like Cubs starter Kyle Hendricks would end the second inning with a tie game when he got Rowdy Tellez to jump to the left side of the field where runners were in scoring position.

It was not to be. Third baseman Isaac Paredes ran straight back. Shortstop Dansby Swanson, shadowed in the middle against a left-hander, had to cover a lot of ground but charged at the ball anyway. The ball landed between the infielders and led to a two-run single.

In the Cubs’ wild 14-10 comeback victory on Wednesday that made it three games against the Pirates, Hendricks went downhill from the second inning onwards, allowing six runs in 1.2 innings.

Although Hendricks’ worst start of the year made the win all the more impressive, it also continued a pattern. Most of his worst performances this season were marked by a one-inning implosion.

“It felt so much better than my last start,” Hendricks said. “It was just one of those days where it’s baseball. That happens. I stuck with it pitch by pitch and did what I could. But at the end of the day, it was just baseball. I’m so proud of these guys.”

Hendricks’ outing didn’t start out particularly promising. After forcing leadoff hitter Isiah Kiner-Falefa to ground out, he allowed a solo home run by Bryan Reynolds that emptied the right-field stands. But he managed a single and a walk and got out of the inning unscathed.

He had a 3-1 lead in the second inning, but it quickly evaporated.

Hendricks walked Yasmani Grandal to start the inning and allowed a double by Jared Triolo that right fielder Cody Bellinger efficiently deflected off the wall, preventing a run from scoring.

Next up was Alika Williams, who made it a full count, but Hendricks got him to miss on a changeup and get the first out. Then Kiner-Falefa hit a groundout to first baseman Michael Busch, bringing up a run.

Reynolds’ smooth line drive up the middle fell just out of Swanson’s reach and tied the game.

But all of this would have been bearable if the inning had ended two batters later.

Instead, Oneil Cruz doubled Reynolds to third base, and Tellez’s two-run bloop single gave the Pirates the lead and extended Hendricks’ already long inning.

He then allowed two hard hits in a row and walked Grandal for the second time in the inning.

Manager Craig Counsell took Hendricks out of the game when the Cubs were trailing 6-3.

Substitute Ethan Roberts came in for him and scored the third out with a pitch.

Statcast estimated at the time that the Pirates had an 81% chance of winning.

The Cubs managed to exceed those expectations.

this and that

Left-handed reliever Drew Smyly was released from waivers and remained with the Cubs, according to sources. He entered the game in the fourth inning after Ethan Roberts left the building with pain in his right ankle.
Smyly allowed two runs in two innings (one earned). The unearned run was scored when Connor Joes Groundball single landed under the left fielder Ian Happs Glove for a mistake.
beginner Ben Brown (Neck) remains in the Cubs’ Arizona complex, but still does not throw, Craig Counsell said.
At this point in the season, Brown is unlikely to return from the injured list.
Right-handed Hayden Wesneski (strained right forearm) has begun taking live batting practice. When he returns, he will likely play as a reliever and have limited time to build up.