Kyle Hendricks pitched seven scoreless innings, allowing five hits, while Nico Hoerner and David Bote each drove in two runs to lead the Chicago Cubs to a 5-1 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals on Friday night. This win extended the Cubs’ current winning streak to five games.
Hendricks reflected on his performance, saying, “I was focused on taking it one pitch at a time. With the doubleheader coming up tomorrow, it was important to go deep into the game and give our bullpen some rest.”
Hendricks (2-7) did not allow any Cardinals runner to advance beyond second base, finishing with three strikeouts and one walk. He has been particularly effective against St. Louis this season, having not allowed a run in 11 1/3 innings over two appearances.
Throughout his career, Hendricks boasts a 14-4 record with a 2.51 ERA in 27 games (26 starts) against the Cardinals.
Cubs manager Craig Counsell noted Hendricks’ comfort on the mound, stating, “Kyle has a lot of experience pitching in this stadium. He’s comfortable here, and it shows in his performance.”
On the Cardinals’ side, Sonny Gray (9-6) allowed three runs on nine hits over seven innings, striking out six. St. Louis has now lost three consecutive games after winning six of their previous eight.
“I thought Sonny did a good job tonight,” said Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol. “He utilized his sinker effectively and mixed in his curveball well against a tough lineup.”
In the ninth inning, Masyn Winn and Willson Contreras walked, and Paul Goldschmidt broke the Cubs’ streak of 32 2/3 consecutive scoreless innings pitched with an RBI single off Hunter Bigge.
