Cubs Fall for First Time in August, Hendricks Strikes Out 12

Kyle Hendricks started the game by striking out six batters in the first two innings. Through seven innings he had two bad pitches, both went for solo home runs. Joe Maddon pulled Hendricks before the eighth inning after Matt Szczur pinch hit for him with the game tied 2-2 in the bottom of the seventh. He struck out 12 batters on the day which tied his season high.

The Cubs got on the board first in the second inning when Addison Russell took Luke Weaver, who was making his major league debut, deep to left field for a two-run bomb. The Cubs managed to load the bases after Russell’s home run but couldn’t score.

After Hendricks left the game Carl Edwards, Jr. came on and there was no reason to believe he wouldn’t find success – he hadn’t given up an earned run in his last six games pitched. Today Edwards had tremendous trouble with his control, something we haven’t seen from him since being called up from Iowa on June 20.

Edwards gave up five earned runs in the inning on one hit. Yes, you just read that right. One hit. When you add in four walks and one wild pitch it turned into disaster for Carl. Honestly, it was a little strange to see and I just think it was one of those days. Edwards has been too good this year to think anything else. He came into the game with a 1.42 ERA and 26 Ks over 19.0 innings pitched.

The Cubs couldn’t make up what turned out to be a six-run hole and they end up dropping their first game out of the last 12 by the score of 8-4 (Box Score).

Stats that mattered

• Hendricks really pitched well, that’s a big positive from today – 7.0IP, 2R, 5H, 12Ks, 2HRs
• Carl Edwards had a bad day but, after his incredible start, it’s hard to be concerned – 0.2IP, 5R, 1H, 4BB, 1K
• The Cubs offense sputtered a bit today – 2-for-7 with RISP but only one of those two hits resulted in runs

Bottom line

I guess the streak was bound to end sometime but I just wish it wouldn’t have been to the Cardinals. And, if I’m being completely honest, a few of their fans were celebrating like they’d just won the NLDS. I suppose that’s the silver lining to this loss. A little reminder that roles in this rivalry have changed…just a little.

Next up

The four-game series comes to an end on Sunday at 7:08 PN CDT on ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball. The Cubs will send John Lackey (9-7, 3.56 ERA) to the hill looking to bring home the series win.