Cubs 3, Reds 0: Hail and (probably) farewell to Kyle Hendricks

The Professor threw a vintage game and received several well-deserved ovations.

Today at Wrigley Field, we had one of those events where you’d say, “If you pitched this to Hollywood producers, they’d throw you out of their office.”

Kyle Hendricks, World Series hero and Cubs stalwart starter for over a decade, struggles all season long. It’s clear that this was most likely his last start as a Cub.

And then he goes out and throws a vintage Professor game, allowing only two hits, and the Cubs won the game over the Reds 3-0 with an eighth-inning rally. It’s a shame Kyle couldn’t have had one last win on his record as a Cub, but we will all take the memories of a storied Cubs career, as well as this magnificent pitching performance.

Hendricks was applauded loudly when he walked to the bullpen for warmups and again when he left the pen for the beginning of the game.

And then he threw a game that could have easily fit into his 2016 season, his best, or any of his other good years. He allowed a first-inning single with two out and then only one other baserunner through the sixth, a two-out walk in the third.

In the first, Kyle recorded one of his two strikeouts on the day, on a changeup to Elly De La Cruz [VIDEO].

That’s the kind of changeup that has gotten Hendricks many, many outs over the last 11 seasons.

And, as has been typical for Hendricks starts when he does well, he gets some help from his defense. This play by Dansby Swanson and Michael Busch in the fourth is a perfect example [VIDEO].

The Cubs couldn’t break through offensively, either, though they had RISP in the first, third and fifth innings. Rhett Lowder and a couple of Reds relievers held them scoreles on just four hits through six.

In the seventh, Hendricks issued a walk and allowed a single with one out, but got a pair of flies to left to end the inning. As was the case Friday, the wind was blowing in strongly and several fly balls by both teams that might have been in the bleachers on other days were held in the yard.

Hendricks was sent out to start the eighth, and got Santiago Espinal on a ground ball to first base. Tommy Hottovy, who’s been in the Cubs organization nearly as long as Hendricks and has been on the coaching staff since 2014 and pitching coach since 2019, came out to remove him from the game.

You’re forgiven if a few tears fell at this moment [VIDEO].

This year likely didn’t go anywhere near the way Kyle and the Cubs hoped it would, but that ending… just wonderful. I’m not sure Kyle really wanted to do the curtain call, but the ovation was so loud his teammates pushed him to go back out. An incredible moment at Wrigley Field, and no matter what happens with Kyle going forward, we’ve got this day — and a marvelous 11 years as a Cub — to remember forever. It was great for me personally to be a part of that, as Hendricks has long been my favorite current Cub.

More on The Professor from BCB’s JohnW53:

This was Kyle Hendricks’ 37th scoreless start, tying him with Ed Reulbach for fifth most such starts by a Cub since 1901. Mordecai “Three Finger” Brown had 52; Rick Reuschel, 43; Hippo Vaughn and Carlos Zambrano, 38. So Hendricks is third in the Live Ball Era. Ferguson Jenkins had 34; Orval Overall, 32; and Jake Arrieta and Greg Maddux, 29.

It also was Hendricks’ 13th start of at least six innings in which he gave up no more than two hits. That ties him with Brown for fourth most. Arrieta had 24; Zambrano, 17; and Kerry Wood, 15.

Gonna say this right now: Every single person here needs to vote for Kyle Hendricks as Player of the Game in tomorrow’s Heroes and Goats. Let’s make him the first unanimous winner of the poll.

Tyson Miller relieved Kyle and immediately gave up a single to Noelvi Marte — but Miguel Amaya threw him out trying to steal, and Jonathan India grounded out to end the inning.

It’s still scoreless, but the Cubs took care of that right away in the eighth. Swanson led off with a double, and another single by Cody Bellinger (who advanced to second on the throw in) put runners on second and third. The Reds intentionally passed Seiya Suzuki to load the bases with nobody out.

Whoops — maybe that wasn’t such a good idea by the Reds, because Isaac Paredes, who was sent up to pinch hit, singled in Swanson to give the Cubs a 1-0 lead [VIDEO].

Nico Hoerner hit into a force play at the plate, which left the bases loaded. Pete Crow-Armstrong singled in Suzuki to make it 2-0 [VIDEO].

With the bases still loaded, Mike Tauchman was sent up as a pinch-hitter and he drew a four-pitch walk to score the Cubs’ third run [VIDEO].

That was enough for Porter Hodge, who came on for the save opportunity. A one-pitch ground out and called strikeout set up this play [VIDEO].

Called safe on the field, it was pretty clear Swanson and Bellinger had made a play and retired Spencer Steer, and the call was overturned on review and the game was over. Not 1:48 as Friday, but still completed in a snappy 2:13, and any dire forecasts of rain were not correct, only a couple of sprinkles fell all afternoon.

More on this shutout win from BCB’s JohnW53:

Yesterday and today are the second time this season that the Cubs have had back-to-back shutout wins. They did it July 10-11 at Baltimore. The last season in which they had multiple shutout streaks was 2018, when they also had a pair of two games.

Since 1901, the Cubs have had 98 two-game shutout streaks and eight three-game streaks. The last of three was July 21-24, 1992.

Well. It would be nice to shut out the Reds Sunday and accomplish something no Cubs team has done in 32 years.

Here’s one more video of Kyle Hendricks with his postgame comments [VIDEO].

I will have much more to say about Kyle Hendricks when it’s clear what his future brings. Personally, I hope that’s his coda to his MLB career and he retires with one last great outing. Kyle’s 5.92 ERA isn’t great, but it’s the first time all year it’s been below 6 and he posted a 2.89 ERA and 1.18 WHIP in five starts covering 28 innings in September.

The Cubs matched their 2023 win total with this victory, their 83rd, so they can top that by one with a win Sunday. At this writing the Cubs still do not have a starting pitcher listed for the season finale. I would have liked to see Shōta Imanaga out there one more time, but…

So it could be Caleb Kilian, or a bullpen game. As always, we await developments. The Reds are starting Hunter Greene. Game time for the season finale Sunday is 2:20 p.m. CT (note the later starting time!) and TV coverage will be via Marquee Sports Network.