CHICAGO (AP) — Kyle Hendricks thinks he is moving in the right direction. He also knows he has to be better — and soon.
Hendricks lasted just four innings in the Chicago Cubs' 6-3 loss to the Miami Marlins on Sunday, continuing a rough start to the season for the 34-year-old right-hander. He struck out five and walked none, but he was charged with four runs and six hits.
“It's just tough with the results not being there,” he said. “It's a results-based game. It's obviously not good on that end, but got to take the positives in the right direction. Just got to put it together here.”
Chicago had won six of eight before the finale of the four-game series, but Hendricks' performance is a growing concern. He has a 12.00 ERA through five starts, surrendering 28 runs and 37 hits in 21 innings.
“I thought there were some positive signs,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell said. “There was no walks. There's five strikeouts. I do think that he limited the hard contact for the most part, but they strung together a good rally and we're still looking at four runs on the board after four innings.”
Hendricks worked a perfect first inning on Sunday, but Jesús Sánchez hit a 460-foot drive to center for a solo homer in the second.
Miami opened the fourth with four consecutive singles on five pitches, producing two runs. A fielder's choice grounder for Emmanuel Rivera drove in another run, giving the Marlins a 4-1 lead.
“Just got beat five pitches in a row there, first pitch hunting, mostly fastballs there,” Hendricks said. “But still executed a lot. Mentally more aggressive, on the glove, just put us in a bad spot.”
Hendricks threw a season-low 56 pitches, 44 for strikes. He hasn't pitched more than five innings in any of his five starts.
Hendricks said his mental side is his biggest challenge at the moment.
“Mechanics feel good. It's more intent-based,” he said. “It comes mentally. When I'm locked on the glove and aggressive, the mechanics sync up. They're on time. When the thoughts kind of just aren't like that, then that's when I'm missing.”
Hendricks, who is eligible for free agency after this season, is the last roster link to Chicago's 2016 World Series championship. He was acquired in a July 2012 trade that sent Ryan Dempster to the Texas Rangers.
Over a five-year stretch from 2016 to 2020, Hendricks went 54-39 with a 3.00 ERA and four complete games. He struck out 668 batters and issued 168 walks in 787 innings.
He went 14-7 in 32 starts in 2021, but his ERA ballooned to 4.77 and he surrendered 200 hits in 181 innings. He was sidelined by a capsular tear in his right shoulder in July 2022 and then began last season on the injured list as he continued his rehab.
Hendricks returned to the mound last May and finished last year with a 3.74 ERA in 24 starts. But he hasn't been able to pick up where he left off.
“Some good steps. Some positive steps,” Counsell said. “Some good innings for sure. ... But we need better results, frankly.”
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Kyle Hendricks looks down during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins in Chicago, Sunday, April 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Kyle Hendricks throws against the Miami Marlins during the first inning of a baseball game in Chicago, Sunday, April 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
DETROIT (AP) — Byron Buxton hit a home run and a double, Christian Vázquez had a homer and three hits and the Minnesota Twins beat the Detroit Tigers 9-3 on Friday night.
“I think everybody put something on the table to win this game,” said Vázquez, who has three of his five homers this season against the Tigers. “When I swing at pitches at zone, I get different results. I feel good and I have confidence in myself.”
Pablo López (9-7) allowed two runs on six hits in seven innings, striking out seven.
“A lot of my stuff got better toward the end of my outing,” he said.
Tigers starter Keider Montero (1-4) allowed six runs on eight hits in five innings.
With only three healthy starters, Tigers manager A.J. Hinch had to stay with Montero even after he allowed three homers in the first two innings.
“He was going to be out there,” Hinch said. “It's not easy right now — we have been putting together some bullpen games and there are some on the horizon, so Keider had a long leash. With three solo homers, we were still in the game.”
Buxton and Trevor Larnach gave Minnesota a 2-0 lead with back-to-back homers in the first, and Matt Wallner added a home run in the second.
Javier Báez hit his second homer in as many days to make it 3-2 in the third.
“I'm feeling good at the plate,” said Báez, who is hitting .179 with three homers. “I've been working a lot to play better, and if I can stay hot, I can have a big second half.”
The Twins regained control with three runs in the fourth.
Willi Castro knocked in two with a single to left and took a big turn around the bag, prompting second baseman Colt Keith to throw to first. The Tigers were wearing their black City Connect jerseys and the only person wearing that color at first was umpire Mike Muchlinski. Keith's throw sailed into Minnesota's dugout, allowing Castro to take third. He scored on Buxton's double to left.
“That's a tough inning when we've got two out, especially after (Báez) gets us back into the game with the homer,” Hinch said. “I haven't talked to Colt, but I think that's down to inexperience — I don't think Bligh (Madris) needed to travel with the runner. He could have stayed (at first), which is probably why he was trying to get back.”
Vázquez hit a two-run homer off Joey Wentz to make it 8-2 in the sixth.
The Tigers loaded the bases with no one out in the seventh, but Gio Urshela grounded into a force at the plate before Báez and Wenceel Pérez popped out.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Twins: Activated 3B Royce Lewis (adductor strain) from the injured list and optioned C Jair Carmago to Triple-A St. Paul. Lewis came into the game hitting .292 with 10 homers and 18 RBIs in 24 games.
Tigers: Placed All-Star OF Riley Greene (hamstring) on the injured list and recalled UTL Ryan Vilade from Triple-A Toledo. Greene has been injured in each of his first three seasons, limiting him to 293 games.
UP NEXT
The teams play the second game of the series on Saturday, with Tigers ace LHP Tarik Skubal (11-3, 2.34) facing Minnesota RHP Joe Ryan (6-6, 3.65).
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
Minnesota Twins center fielder Byron Buxton misplays the double hit by Detroit Tigers' Matt Vierling during the seventh inning of a baseball game, Friday, July 26, 2024, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)
Minnesota Twins pitcher Caleb Thielbar throws during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Detroit Tigers, Friday, July 26, 2024, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)
Minnesota Twins' Christian Vazquez (8) is greeted at home plate after a two-run home run during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Detroit Tigers, Friday, July 26, 2024, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)
Detroit Tigers pitcher Joey Wentz throws during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Minnesota Twins, Friday, July 26, 2024, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)
Detroit Tigers pitcher Will Vest throws during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Minnesota Twins, Friday, July 26, 2024, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)
Detroit Tigers' Javier Baez is greeted at home plate by Carson Kelly after Baez's two-run home run during the third inning of a baseball game against the Minnesota Twins, Friday, July 26, 2024, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)
Detroit Tigers pitcher Joey Wentz throws during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Minnesota Twins, Friday, July 26, 2024, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)
Detroit Tigers pitcher Joey Wentz walks next to the mound as Minnesota Twins' Christian Vazquez rounds the bases after a two-run home run during the sixth inning of a baseball game, Friday, July 26, 2024, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)
Minnesota Twins' Christian Vazquez is greeted in the dugout after a two-run home run during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Detroit Tigers, Friday, July 26, 2024, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)
Minnesota Twins center fielder Byron Buxton misplays the double hit by Detroit Tigers' Matt Vierling during the seventh inning of a baseball game, Friday, July 26, 2024, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)
Minnesota Twins' Byron Buxton approaches home plate after a solo home run during the first inning of a baseball game against the Detroit Tigers, Friday, July 26, 2024, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)
