CHICAGO (670 The Score) — Cubs right-hander Kyle Hendricks is known for his calm demeanor on the mound, but he broke from his stoic form when Gold Glove second baseman Nico Hoerner and shortstop Dansby Swanson let out primal yells toward each other.
Hoerner had just made a spectacular diving play to save two runs in the fourth inning, and it proved to be the difference in the Cubs' 9-7 win over the Dodgers on Friday at Wrigley Field.
Hendricks stepped off the mound, pumping his fist and yelling out to Hoerner and Swanson. This Cubs team is proving to be fun for everyone to watch.
“When you see those two yelling at each other, screaming in each other’s face, it’s hard not to react,” Hendricks said with a laugh.
The Cubs have won five straight games after dropping their first two of the season to the defending World Series champion Rangers. Billed as a favorite to win the NL Central crown this season, the Cubs have showcased their best form with a deep lineup, quality starting pitching and stout defense.
Though Hendricks struggled in allowing five earned runs over four innings Friday, the Cubs picked him up with two home runs, four extra-base hits, nine hits in total and nine runs. Dodgers right-hander Bobby Miller – who struck out 11 over six shutout innings in his 2024 debut – was bounced in the second inning after allowing five earned runs in 1 2/3 innings of work.
Miller struck out the side in the top of the first, mowing down Ian Happ, Seiya Suzuki and Cody Bellinger. The Cubs had just one strikeout the rest of the game. Their offense entered Friday with MLB's best walk rate (13.6%) and strikeout rate (16.1%), figures that reflect the makeup of their lineup.
“It’s really become our identity,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell said. “It’s really hard to do, those two numbers. It’s a sign of the at-bats that we’re taking and how guys are grinding them out, swinging at the right pitches, putting the right pitches in play, fouling off the tough pitches. And it’s certainly a formula for success.”
The Cubs’ starting lineup Friday featured six players who are hitting over .300 through seven games this season. The slugger Suzuki added to his team-leading RBI total with three runs knocked in, giving him 11 RBIs on the season. Rookie first baseman Michael Busch – whom the Cubs acquired in a trade with the Dodgers in January – hit his first home run in a Chicago uniform and did so against his former team.
Busch, 26, is one of the Cubs’ new additions tasked with elevating their lineup after the team came up one game short of reaching the playoffs last season. But he also produced a highlight in the field with a diving catch on a line drive to secure the final out of the victory.
This time around, it was closer Adbert Alzolay pumping his fist as the Cubs played to their identity and closed out a win.
“The guys played unbelievable,” Hendricks said. “Defense from pitch one, the at-bats we were putting together, just kept adding on.
“Just a good all-around ballgame right there.”
Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago’s sports scene and more for 670TheScore.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670 .
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