Hendricks Stellar, Rizzo Bombs Two Home Runs as Cubs Cruise to Win Over Mets

It’s weird when you first say it but it seems to be getting easier now that we’ve been saying it for a little while, Kyle Hendricks just went out and showed exactly why he leads the Cubs’ starting staff in ERA. It felt like he was in complete and total control the entire game, holding the Mets to no runs on seven hits, along with some perfectly timed help from his defense, to win the rubber game in the series 6-2 (Box Score).

The Chicago Cubs (57-37) wasted no time in opening up the scoring today. They loaded the bases in the bottom of the first inning – yes, my chest tightened thinking back to Tuesday night’s no out squandering of the bases loaded against Familia – with Addison Russell up to bat and two outs, he poked a double into the left center field gap scoring two runs.

It was in the third inning when Anthony Rizzo did that thing he does so well – clobber baseballs. He crushed a solo shot 451 feet  which was the longest Statcast recorded home run by him. That made the game 3-0.

 

What a shot! At 451 feet, this @ARizzo44 HR is the longest #Statcast ever recorded from him. https://t.co/NekLoTUjvNpic.twitter.com/3lnHXm5wir

— #Statcast (@statcast) July 20, 2016

And he wasn’t done there, folks. In the bottom of the fifth inning he gave all the fans who may have been grabbing a beer, getting a bite to eat, or whatever, a chance to relive his incredible home run hitting ability with another bomb, this time it was a two-run shot that gave the Cubs a 5-0 lead.

Anthony Rizzo. MVP. #Cubspic.twitter.com/GVV2QG9bsD

— Aldo Soto (@AldoSoto21) July 20, 2016

 

Oh and Jason Heyward….oh boy, he did this. Can you say 99 MPH throw? Stud.

Stats that mattered

• Hendricks was in the zone – 6.1IP, 7H, 1BB, 7Ks
• Rizzo was in the zone – 2-for-4, 2R, 3RBIs, 2HR
• Addison Russell has found his grove – 3-for-3, 2RBIs
• Kris Bryant is SO consistent – 2-for-5, 2R

Bottom line

The Cubs are done playing the pesky Mets for the year and I can honestly say that I will be happy if they don’t show up in the Cubs way come playoff time. They’re a tough team and they always seem to get up for playing the Cubs. Didn’t they get enough satisfaction back in 1969??

Next up

The Cubs get the day off on Thursday and will head to Milwaukee on Friday, with new pitcher Mike Montgomery in tow, to take on the Brewers. Game time is 7:10 PM and Jason Hammel (8-5, 3.34 ERA) will take the ball for the Cubs.