Bats can't bail out Hendricks in loss to Phils

Righty allows five runs over five innings; Rizzo's RBI double in eighth Cubs' lone tally

June 6th, 2018

CHICAGO -- wasn't able to keep the Cubs on a roll on Tuesday night.
The Phillies scored more runs on ' two-run homer in the second than they did in their three previous games, posting a 6-1 victory over the Cubs at Wrigley Field to snap Chicago's winning streak at four games.
"Obviously, Kyle was not on top of his game, missing the plate, the home run early," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said. "We still had plenty of time to get back into it. We worked some good at-bats. We had guys out there, but we could not get the hit to get back into the game. It was kind of a lazy game in a sense, and the engine never turned over."

Hendricks had given up three earned runs or fewer in 10 of his 11 starts prior to Tuesday, and was charged with a season-high five runs on five hits against the Phillies. Chicago starting pitchers were 4-1 with a 1.98 ERA in the last seven games, part of a stretch that Maddon called the best week of the season. Hendricks couldn't continue that run.

"I was inconsistent," Hendricks said. "I wasn't repeating my mechanics. I just have to get back to work this week and really dial everything in. It starts with fastball command, it wasn't great. The first inning I felt good, and the second and third, I just wasn't repeating my mechanics. The focus was there. I've just got to lock everything in and get to work this week."
The Phillies had scuffled against the Giants over the weekend, totaling one run in three games, all losses. Williams connected with one on and one out in the second inning on a 3-1 sinker from Hendricks, who has now given up 12 home runs in 12 starts.

"I think a lot of those guys, I'm just falling behind," said Hendricks, who gave up 17 home runs in 24 starts last season. "I'm falling behind too many guys and giving in somewhat, not wanting to walk [them]. I'm still making a good pitch but getting hurt in bad counts. I really have to focus on being more aggressive, getting ahead of guys and putting them away when I get ahead."
Hendricks walked two in the third. The Phillies loaded the bases, then tallied on a bases-loaded walk to , a sacrifice fly by and a fielder's choice by Williams.
Zach Eflin, who had given up 12 earned runs in his previous three starts, scattered eight hits over 7 2/3 innings and was pulled after 's RBI double with two out in the Chicago eighth.
"He's a good pitcher," Rizzo said. "They have a good staff, and especially on a night like tonight, we have to score runs with the wind blowing in and all that stuff. We had a couple opportunities, and it just went their way."

The Cubs stranded eight and went 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position, which has become a bad trend.
"We had chances to score, but we've got to somehow become a little more consistent there," Maddon said. "Right now, that is the one part of our offensive scheme that's lacking, and it's going to require a more simple approach, staying in the middle. It's stuff we talk about all the time. I don't want to pound on it too hard because I know our guys are good."
YOU GOTTA SEE THIS
Shortstop was splashed with a fan's beer after diving into the stands to catch 's popup in the ninth. Herrera's ball was in foul territory along the third-base line, and Baez tracked it down, grabbing the ball as he rolled over the short brick wall into the first row. Baez spilled a few fans' drinks in the process but still held onto the ball for the out.

"The wall there is a pretty good level to do that," Maddon said. "I love the effort, love the play, all of the above, but it was awkward looking to say the least. Addison [Russell] did a similar thing in St. Louis last year and ended up with some nachos [spilled on him]. It looked like Javy had a $5 beer, a $10 beer [spilled on him]. He's fun to watch."

Baez had caught 's popup in foul territory to start the game as well.
"The first play of the game, it was just like that, and after I caught it, [Kris Bryant] told me it was his ball," Baez said. "This play [in the ninth], the ball really went farther, and after I caught it, I said, 'It's still your ball.'"

Was Baez OK after the catch?
"[The fans] were just really excited, and I felt like they were just trying to touch me," Baez said. "It was great. It was fun. I smell like beer." More >
HE SAID IT
"I thought that was awesome. He deserves all of it. Everything he's done for this team since I've been here, everything he's done for me, I can't explain it all. He's an awesome teammate, awesome guy. He deserves all that recognition for sure." -- Hendricks, on the video tribute to after the first inning in his return to Wrigley Field

UP NEXT
will start Wednesday in the second game of this three-game series against the Phillies. Quintana threw six scoreless innings in his last start against the Mets, limiting them to three hits. It was the fourth time this season that he didn't give up an earned run while throwing at least six innings. He's 4-2 with a 2.62 ERA on the road, 2-2 with a 6.66 ERA at Wrigley Field. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. CT, and the Phillies will counter with right-hander .