Game One Hundred Thirty-One – Cubs 3, Pirates 0
WP – Kyle Hendricks (13-7) LP – Chad Kuhl (3-2) Save – Aroldis Chapman (31)
Anthony Rizzo lined a two-run homer to right off Chad Kuhl in the first. Miguel Montero singled in Addison Russell in the second and that is all the run support Kyle Hendricks would need as the Cubs shutout the Pirates on Tuesday night at Wrigley Field.
Kyle Hendricks was masterful on Tuesday night. Hendricks shut the Pirates down for seven innings. Hendricks did not give up a hit until the fifth inning and faced the minimum through five innings. The Pirates did not put two runners on base against Hendricks at any time Tuesday.
Hendricks found a rhythm with Miguel Montero and retired one batter after another. Hendricks kept the Pirates off balance with tremendous fastball command and an excellent curveball. Hendricks pounded the bottom of the strike zone and there was very little hard contact throughout his outing.
Kyle Hendricks gave up three hits, two singles and a pinch-hit double by John Jaso. Hendricks issued only one free pass and struck out four. Hendricks made 99 pitches, 61 for strikes, in seven outstanding innings.
Carl Edwards Jr. was solid in the eighth. Edwards Jr. gave up a double and a deep fly to center off the bat of Matt Joyce that chased Matt Szczur to the wall. Aroldis Chapman set the Pirates down in order in the ninth on 13 pitches, nine for strikes.
Kyle Hendricks, Carl Edwards Jr. and Aroldis Chapman combined on a four-hitter, the Cubs’ 12th shutout of the season. The Cubs issued one walk, struck out five and faced just 30 batters in nine innings, three over the minimum.
The Cubs defense had another good game. Addison Russell made a couple of difficult plays at shortstop look routine. Miguel Montero threw out Starling Marte trying to swipe second in the fifth inning. Montero called an excellent game. Javier Baez showed off his lightning-fast tags and Hendricks picked Josh Harrison off first base, the only batter he walked.
The Cubs offense did just enough to give Hendricks an early lead. The Cubs had five hits and made two free passes hurt.
Javier Baez (0-for-3 with a HBP and a run scored) was hit by a 0-2 pitch in the first inning. Baez was on first base when Anthony Rizzo (1-for-4 with a home run and two RBI) lined a 2-2 pitch from Kuhl off the ribbon board in right field.
Addison Russell (0-for-2 with a walk and a run scored) put together an excellent plate appearance to start the second inning. Russell went from 0-2 to 4-2. Russell walked and stole second with Montero at the plate.
Miguel Montero (1-for-3 with a RBI) singled to left on a 3-2 pitch. Russell was waived in and scored, 3-0 Cubs. Montero was thrown out at second base trying to advance on the throw to the plate.
Kris Bryant (1-for-4 with a double), Matt Szczur (1-for-3) and Jorge Soler (1-for-2 with two walks) had the Cubs other three hits.
With Tuesday’s win, the Cubs improved to 84-47 on the season.
Jason Hammel was moved up a day and will take on veteran right-hander Ryan Vogelsong in the finale with the Pirates on Wednesday night (7:05pm CDT).