MLB

Cincinnati Reds at Chicago Cubs

· Major League Baseball
Cincinnati Reds
76-85, 37-43 Away
Final
0 - 3
Chicago Cubs
83-78, 44-36 Home

Kyle Hendricks sharp in what may have been Cubs' finale, 3-0 win over Reds

Kyle Hendricks waved to appreciative fans after what may have been his final start for the Cubs, and Chicago beat the Cincinnati Reds 3-0 on Saturday as Isaac Paredes and Pete Crow-Armstrong had run-scoring singles in a three-run eighth inning.

Hendricks allowed only only a pair of singles, one an infield hit, and walked two over 7 1/3 innings on an afternoon with a strong wind blowing in from the northeast at Wrigley Field. The 34-year-old right-hander struck out two and retired 11 in a row in one stretch.

A member of the Cubs' 2016 World Series champions, Hendricks can become a free agent after completing a contract worth $70 million over five seasons. He was hugged by teammates before leaving the mound, then got an ovation from the crowd of 38,180. He came out of the dugout after the game to wave to fans.

“You feel all the emotions, man, feel so lucky,” Hendricks said. “I'm so happy. I had my whole family here today up in the stands. I'm sure they're crying.

“Just for the fans to give me that, from the moment I showed up at the ballpark today kind of celebrating me. Part of me hates it. I hate all the attention. But at the end I have to soak in all these moments.”

Hendricks has spent all 11 of his major league seasons with the Cubs. He become a staple in their rotation after debuting in 2014, although a shoulder injury hindered him in 2022 and 2023 and he was demoted to the bullpens.

“I just tried my best to stay locked onto the task at hand,” Hendricks said,

Dansby Swanson doubled off Buck Farmer (3-2) starting the eighth. Justin Wilson relieved, Cody Bellinger singled and Seiya Suzuki was intentionally walked.

Paredes pinch hit and looped a single to center to drive in the first run. After Pete Crow-Armstrong's RBI single, Mike Tauchman drew a bases-loaded walk.

Tyson Milller (5-1) got two outs in the eighth, and Porter Hodge pitched a perfect ninth for his ninth save in 12 chances, finishing a three-hitter.

Cubs manager Craig Counsell sent pitching coach Tommy Hottovy to the mound to pull Hendricks after he reached 81 pitches. That gesture was significant to the righty, whose teammates later assembled a pyramid of 22 baseballs — one for each of his outs on Saturday — in front of his locker.

“Tommy's meant so much to me,” Hendricks said. “He seen literally every single pitch, every single bullpen I've thrown. He's been here the whole time. I can't thank him enough just for sticking with me.”

Hendricks, 97-81 for his career, finished 4-12 with a 5.92 ERA this season, He plans to keep pitching and would like to stay with Chicago, but seems resigned to moving on to another team.

“The door isn't closed here, but just the way most things happen, it's most likely going to end up being somewhere else,” Hendricks said.

Cincinnati has lost five in a row. The Reds were shut out for the 16th time and held to three hits or fewer for the 20th time.

“The offense has been dormant here the last couple of days,” Reds interim manager Freddie Benavides said. “Vintage Hendricks today. Just put the ball in play. I think we had, what, around 10 flyball outs, so it's something that we can't do with the conditions here.”

Reds starter Rhett Lowder allowed three hits in five innings. The 22-year-old right-hander, the seventh overall pick in last year's amateur draft, debuted on Aug. 30 and went 2-2 with a 1.17 ERA in six starts. He struck out 22 and walked 14 in 30 2/3 innings, and he didn't allow a home run.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Cubs: Suzuki was 2 for 2 with two walks as a DH after missing two games with a sprained right ankle.

UP NEXT

Reds RHP Hunter Greene (9-5, 2.83) and Cubs RHP Caleb Kilian (0-1, 7.94) will start Sunday's season finale.

How can I watch Cincinnati Reds vs. Chicago Cubs?
  • TV Channel: Reds at Cubs 2022 MLB Baseball, is broadcasted on ESPN+.
  • Online streaming: Sign up for Fubo.

Matchup Prediction

Cubs: 48.8%
Reds: 51.2%
*According to ESPN's Basketball Power Index

Scoring Summary

9th Inning Steer grounded out to shortstop.
9th Inning Stephenson struck out looking.
9th Inning De La Cruz grounded out to shortstop.
9th Inning Hodge relieved Miller
9th Inning Tauchman in right field.
9th Inning I. Paredes at third base.

Statistics

https://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/teamlogos/mlb/500/cin.png&h=100&scale=crop&w=100&location=originCIN https://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/teamlogos/mlb/500/chc.png&h=100&scale=crop&w=100&location=originCHC
1 Games Played 1
1 Team Games Played 1
0 Hit By Pitch 0
12 Ground Balls 8
3 Strikeouts 1
0 Runs Batted In 3
0 Sacrifice Hit 0
3 Hits 8
0 Stolen Bases 1
2 Walks 5
0 Catcher Interference 0
0 Runs 3
0 Ground Into Double Play 0
0 Sacrifice Flies 0
29 At Bats 32
0 Home Runs 0
0 Grand Slam Home Runs 0
6 Runners Left On Base 24
0 Triples 0
0 Game Winning RBIs 1
0 Intentional Walks 1
0 Doubles 1
14 Fly Balls 23
1 Caught Stealing 1
101 Pitches 128
0 Games Started 0
0 Pinch At Bats 1
0 Pinch Hits 1
0.0 Player Rating 0.0
1 Is Qualified 1
1 Is Qualified In Steals 1
3 Total Bases 9
31 Plate Appearances 37
0.0 Projected Home Runs 0.0
0 Extra Base Hits 1
-0.8 Runs Created 3.6
.103 Batting Average .250
.000 Pinch Hit Average 1.000
.103 Slugging Percentage .281
.034 Secondary Average .188
.161 On Base Percentage .351
.265 OBP Pct + SLG Pct .633
0.9 Ground To Fly Ball Ratio 0.3
-0.8 Runs Created Per 27 Outs 3.9
3.0 Batter Rating 23.0
0.0 At Bats Per Home Run 0.0
0.00 Stolen Base Percentage 0.50
3.26 Pitches Per Plate Appearance 3.46
.000 Isolated Power .031
0.67 Walk To Strikeout Ratio 5.00
.065 Walks Per Plate Appearance .135
-.069 Secondary Average Minus Batting Average -.063
0.0 Runs Produced 6.0
0.0 Runs Ratio 1.0
0.2 Patience Ratio 0.4
0.1 Balls In Play Average 0.3
58.0 MLB Rating 77.0
0.0 Offensive Wins Above Replacement 0.0
0.0 Wins Above Replacement 0.0

Game Information

Wrigley Field

Location: Chicago, Illinois
Attendance: 38,180 | Capacity:

2024 National League Central Standings

TEAM W L PCT GB STRK
Milwaukee 93 69 .574 - L1
St. Louis 83 79 .512 10 W1
Chicago 83 79 .512 10 L1
Cincinnati 77 85 .475 16 W1
Pittsburgh 76 86 .469 17 L1
Full Standings