- Commissioner’s statement on Ventura, Marte
- Ronnie O’Sullivan: Masters champion ‘felt so vulnerable’ in final
- Arron Fletcher Wins 2017 WSOP International Circuit Marrakech Main Event ($140,224)
- Smith challenges Warner to go big in India
- Moncada No. 1 on MLB Pipeline’s Top 10 2B Prospects list
- Braves land 2 on MLB Pipeline’s Top 10 2B Prospects list
- Kingery makes MLB Pipeline’s Top 10 2B Prospects list
- New Zealand wrap up 2-0 after Bangladesh implosion
- Mathews, Pradeep, Gunathilaka to return to Sri Lanka
- Elliott hopes for rain for Poli
No-no, HR, heave-ho: What a 9th for Cubs!
- Updated: September 13, 2016
ST. LOUIS — Cy Young voters can’t overlook Kyle Hendricks any more. The right-hander threw eight no-hit innings on Monday night before serving up a leadoff homer to Jeremy Hazelbaker in the ninth in the Cubs’ 4-1 victory over the Cardinals at Busch Stadium. With the win, the Cubs’ magic number to clinch the National League Central is now three.
“Unbelievably great,” Cubs manager Joe Maddon said of Hendricks’ outing. “It’s unfortunate he did not get the no-hitter. They did not get good swings against him all night. He was in charge that entire game. It’s got to catapult him in the minds of people voting right now. That was spectacular.”
The loss cost the Cardinals an opportunity to leap the Mets in the NL Wild Card race. With both teams losing on Monday, the Mets still hold a half-game lead for the second Wild Card spot.
Maddon lasted long enough to pull Hendricks from the game. Home-plate umpire Joe West ejected him after an animated argument following Hazelbaker’s home run. It was the third time Maddon has been tossed this season.
“We needed a little more time to get [Aroldis Chapman] ready based on the situation,” Maddon said. “I needed the catcher to go out to the mound, that’s all. That’s it. That’s it. We were denied, and I didn’t like that, so I made my stand.”
But this was Hendricks’ night, and he now leads all Major League pitchers with a 2.03 ERA. He struck out seven and has given up three earned runs or fewer in each of his last 20 starts.
Hendricks faced the minimum over seven innings, although he did walk Yadier Molina with one out in the second. But he got Jedd Gyorko to hit into a double play and end that inning. Hendricks also walked Gyorko with two outs in the eighth.
“He made not many mistakes in the middle of the plate,” said Cardinals manager Mike Matheny, whose club fell to 32-40 at home. “He was pushing the corners all day long. He’s been doing that most of the season. He doesn’t give a whole lot.”
The Cubs’ defense backed up the soft-spoken pitcher known as “The Professor,” including a stellar play by Jason Heyward, who dove into the right-field seats in the sixth to grab Hazelbaker’s foul ball.
Monday marked the first time since Sept. 25, 1995, that the Cardinals were held to one hit by the Cubs. In that game, Bernard Gilkey broke up Frank Castillo’s no-hit bid with two outs in the ninth.
MOMENTS THAT MATTEREDZorilla: Ben Zobrist entered Monday’s …
