Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Kyle Hendricks tips his cap to the Wrigley Field fans after being pulled in the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
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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 3-run eighth inning.
Hendricks allowed only a pair of singles, one an infield hit, and walked two over 7⅓ 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 Miller (5-1) got two outs in the eighth, and Porter Hodge pitched a perfect ninth for his ninth save in 12 chances, finishing a 3-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.
Chicago Cubs catcher Miguel Amaya shakes hands with starting pitcher Kyle Hendricks after the top half of the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
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“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 30⅔ innings, and he didn’t allow a home run.