Hendricks shaky, but bullpen steps up vs. Rox
Righty gives up career-high five runs; relievers shut down Colorado
DENVER -- Kyle Hendricks didn't have a problem with Coors Field on Sunday, just with himself.
The Cubs right-hander did not get a decision in the 6-5 come-from-behind victory over the Rockies, exiting after giving up a career-high five runs over 4 1/3 innings.
"I had nothing out there, and was just trying to battle and keep them in it," said Hendricks, pitching for the first time since he threw one inning Aug. 4 in an exhibition game in Arizona.
"The feel just wasn't there," he said. "I don't know what it was. At the end of the day, it doesn't matter how you feel, you have to make pitches, and I didn't make pitches. First one's out of the way."
If he could have one pitch back, it would be the changeup to the Rockies' DJ LeMahieu with the bases loaded and two outs in the second.
"[It was an] 0-2 pitch. I tried to throttle him a little bit and throw a fastball up and then go changeup, and I just didn't get it down enough," Hendricks said. "Not a terrible pitch, but you have to make a better pitch on 0-2."
What helped Hendricks and the Cubs was a solid effort by the bullpen, which shutdown the Rockies for 4 2/3 innings.
"That's the name of this game -- not giving up," said reliever Jason Motte, who entered in the fifth with a runner on third and one out and escaped. "It doesn't matter what inning it is or whatever. These guys as hitters, no matter what the score is, they're going up and grinding out at-bats.
"It was awesome to see [the comeback]," Motte said. "They didn't go, 'OK, whatever. Game's over.' It's like, 'No, it's not over.' They put some good at-bats together, and look what happens. Guys went out there and put up some good at-bats and came out on top."
Motte knows how successful teams operate, having played on the Cardinals his entire career. The Cubs are still learning.
"I don't think we win this last year," Hendricks said. "Just the confidence factor, all the new guys coming in here, the winning attitude, winning ways. These guys know how to win, and they showed it."