Homer averts history but not another loss

ST. LOUIS — Thanks to one swing in the ninth inning by Jeremy Hazelbaker, Mal Eason’s place in St. Louis baseball history remains secure for at least for one more day.

A right-hander whose Major League career spanned six seasons with teams nicknamed the Superbas, Orphans, Tigers and Beaneaters, Eason was nearly bumped from the history books by Cubs Cy Young candidate Kyle Hendricks on Monday. But it wasn’t to be. Though the Cardinals took a costly 4-1 loss to the Cubs, they would not be held hitless, as Hazelbaker launched a home run that foiled Hendricks’ no-hit bid, chased him from the game and left Eason standing as the last pitcher to no-hit the Cardinals in St. Louis.

That, of course, happened 110 years ago.

“Everybody knows what’s going on,” Hazelbaker said. “You just want to break it up.”

Before Hazelbaker’s history-denying swing, the Cardinals’ offense had been listless. A day after being stymied by Brewers starter Zach Davies, the Cardinals ran into another starter with a lethal changeup and pinpoint command.

Hendricks eased through eight innings on 93 pitches. He had walked two and gotten some key assists …

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