Kyle Hendricks struck out a season-high eight batters in his first start in over a month as the Chicago Cubs held on to beat the visiting San Francisco Giants 6-5 on Wednesday afternoon in the rubber match of a three-game series.
Hendricks (1-4) limited the Giants to one run on two hits and a walk over 5 2/3 innings of work in his first start since May 17. He was demoted to the bullpen after his ERA ballooned to 10.57 after seven starts.
Colten Brewer walked two consecutive batters with one out in the ninth, but got the final two outs for his first- career save in his sixth MLB season.
Ian Happ and Dansby Swanson each had two hits for the Cubs, including back-to-back solo home runs in the fourth inning.
Nico Hoerner and Michael Busch also contributed two hits apiece. Hoerner and Busch each scored a run as Chicago won its second straight game.
Jorge Soler hit a grand slam in the eighth inning for San Francisco to make it a one-run game.
The Giants deployed a string of relievers in the series finale, beginning with Erik Miller, who pitched a scoreless first inning.
After escaping a bases-loaded, no-out jam in the third inning, rookie right-hander Spencer Bivens (1-1) came back out for the fourth and immediately surrendered homers to Happ and Swanson to make it 2-0. Bivens exited after walking Busch in the ensuing at-bat.
Miguel Amaya then singled off Sean Hjelle and Pete Crow-Armstrong laid down a bunt, but the throw from third baseman Matt Chapman sailed into Crow-Armstrong, who collided with Thairo Estrada at first base. The ball rolled into foul territory, allowing Busch to score to make it 3-0.
Hendricks did not allow a hit until Estrada doubled over the head of Happ in left to start the sixth.
After a bunt single by Brett Wisely put runners on the corners, Heliot Ramos grounded into what should have been an inning-ending double play, but Swanson’s throw pulled Cody Bellinger off the bag at first.
Estrada scored on the play to pull San Francisco within 3-1 and end Hendricks’ day.
Swanson came through with a two-out, two-run single with the bases loaded in the seventh to extend the lead to 5-1. The Giants then botched a rundown, allowing Christopher Morel to score and make it 6-1.
After San Francisco loaded the bases with two outs in the eighth off Mark Leiter Jr., Tyson Miller was brought in to face Soler, who hammered a curveball over the wall in left for a grand slam that cut it to 6-5.
–Field Level Media