Cubs News: Kyle Hendricks was dominant against the Twins

The Chicago Cubs’ Kyle Hendricks was spectacular on the mound against the Minnesota Twins, pitching eight innings of shutout baseball.

Bravo. The Chicago Cubs’ Kyle Hendricks outdueled the Minnesota Twins’ Rich Hill in a 1-0 affair Friday night. Hendricks was breathtaking. If not for his 104 pitches, he likely missed out on his fifth career shutout and his second of the year.

Hendricks wasn’t shying away from the curveball, which he used to his advantage. He used his fastball to get ahead in the count and then used the curve as his strikeout pitch, striking out 10 batters in his eight innings of work.

“(The curveball) all year has been the best it’s been for me in my career,” Hendricks said. “Tonight was one of the best. When I see an opportunity to throw it, I’m not shying away from it anymore.”

And he doesn’t. He threw it every time he had a chance to. He averaged a FIP of 1.07, the best of this season. He only allowed three hits in eight innings of work–and left 100% LOB.

The Cubs’ Willson Contreras had two of the three hits tonight; Kyle Schwarber had the other. Contreras had the lone run, knocking in Anthony Rizzo. That was it.

Hendricks may have come out for the ninth inning, but you don’t ride the horses for that long. 104 pitches? You shut him down and bring on Jeremy Jeffress. However, Jeffress had some issues with the ninth inning. Josh Donaldson hit into a double play, but Nelson Cruz walked–bringing up Eddie Rosario. But he fanned Rosario to give him eight saves on the season.

Hendricks was magnificent, and he’ll likely get one more before the Cubs start their playoff run. The bats are still stale, but the pitching was spot on for this game.