Hendricks, Cubs Dismantle Padres to Complete Series Sweep
The Chicago Cubs (81-45) didn’t trail once all day today – for that matter, they didn’t trail once all series. Kyle Hendricks (12-7, 2.19 ERA) pitched six solid innings and, with the exception of three extra base-hits over the first three innings, he looked comfortable and in control throughout as he led the Cubs to a 6-3 win (Box Score) and the series sweep.
The Cubs opened up the game with a flurry of offense in the first inning, putting the Padres immediately back on their heels. Dexter Fowler and Kris Bryant led off with back-to-back doubles. Ben Zobrist then laced the ball to the right-center field wall and turned what normally would’ve been a double into a hustle-triple, driving in two runs in the process. Jorge Soler hit a deep sacrifice fly to drive in Zobrist and the Cubs had the early 3-0 lead.
The Padres would close the gap with two runs, one in the bottom of the second and one in the bottom of the third, on two of the three extra base hits that Hendricks gave up on the day.
Addison Russell would bring a run home on a ball that the Padres’ shortstop, Luis Sardinas, couldn’t handle in the top of the sixth inning. Then, in the top of the seventh inning, Willson Contreras crushed an opposite field bomb to right field. That gave the Cubs a 6-2 lead.
The Padres got a run in the eighth inning before Arolodis Chapman came on to close things out for the Cubs in the ninth. After allowing a lead-off single it was no problem for Chapman – he struck out the side and earned his 29th save of the year.
Stat that mattered
- Kyle Hendricks’ consistency is what makes him so fun to watch – 6.0IP, 4R, 2H, 2BB, 8Ks
- Chapman looked a lot more like the deadly pitcher we know and love – 1.0Ip, 0R, 1H, 3Ks
- Kris Bryant just keeps on going and going – 2-for-4, 2R, 2B
- Ben Zobrist came through in the clutch (again) – 2-for-4, 2R, 2RBI, 3B
- Soler has pretty much erased all doubt about his ability to be a very good hitter – 2-for-3, 1RBI, 2B
- Contreras has been hot at the plate in August, batting .296 – 1-for-4, 1R, 1RBI, HR
Bottom line
Why doesn’t every series feel like that one just did? Everything went quite well for the Chicago Cubs in their three-day dismantling of the San Diego Padres at Petco Park. In each game they got off to an early lead and they never once surrendered that lead. There wasn’t really even a moment where it looked like there was even a chance they’d surrender the lead. Great series in all aspects for the boys in blue.
Next up
The Cubs travel to Los Angeles, where they’ll face a good test from the Dodgers starting on Friday at 9:10 PM CT. Mike Montgomery (4-5, 2.41 ERA) will make another start for the Cubs as he looks for his second consecutive win.
