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They might not be All-Stars, but Cubs’ role players get the job done
- Updated: June 3, 2016
8:27 PM ET
CHICAGO — You know it’s been a good series for the Chicago Cubs when Jake Arrieta had the shortest outing among the healthy starters. After Jason Hammel went down with leg cramps on Monday, which required the bullpen to pitch seven innings against the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Cubs needed their rotation to eat up the final three games of the series.
Eat them up they did, with a complete game win by Jon Lester on Wednesday and an eight-inning performance by Kyle Hendricks on Thursday, when he beat the Dodgers 7-2. Hendricks just missed becoming the first pitcher since Greg Maddux in 2004 to pitch back-to-back complete games for the franchise.
“Kyle was unbelievably good,” manager Joe Maddon simply stated after the game.
That’s about the same thing Maddon said of Lester the night before and Arrieta on Tuesday. The irony is both Lester and Hendricks gave up runs — three total — while Arrieta went scoreless for seven, but the Cubs’ offense was held in check that day. That was not the case Thursday, when four players went deep, including Javier Baez, who had a huge day at the plate and in the field.
“Feeling good,” Baez said. “Seeing the ball good. Making my adjustments and making good contact.”
Kyle Hendricks limited the Dodgers to just three hits, a walk and two runs in eight dominant innings. Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images
The loss of Kyle Schwarber early in the season opened the door for Baez, who has knocked it down by playing nearly flawless defense at second and third base. When Maddon can sit one of the hottest hitters in the league, Ben Zobrist, and not miss a beat with Baez, it says a lot about the talent on the team.
“We have …
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