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 The Chicago Cubs' right-hander earned his first major league
victory with seven efficient innings in a 6-0 decision over the San
Diego Padres in the opener of a three-game Wrigley Field series on
Tuesday.
First baseman Anthony Rizzo helped with two solo home runs for a
National League-leading 25 as the Cubs (41-57) snapped a five-game
losing streak.
Hendricks (1-0) made his second big league start since a no-decision
on July 10 in Cincinnati.
"It's definitely the best day of my life," said the 24-year-old
rookie, who scattered five hits. "First major league win, it's what
you work for since you were a little kid playing T-ball. It's
awesome."
Cubs manager Rick Renteria said, "He had a real good tempo. He had a
real good idea what he wanted to do with every single hitter and
went right after it."
Hendricks, called up from Triple-A Iowa earlier Tuesday, struck out
five and walked three as the Cubs won for only the third time in
their last 14 games.
"From the start, I just pounded the strike zone," Hendricks said. "I
knew my sinker was working ... and the curveball was really good
today."
The Padres (43-56) had a two-game winning streak snapped as
left-handed starter Eric Stults (3-12) pitched five innings and took
the loss.
"With 50-plus pitches after two (innings) and we took him out after
five he had given up (just) three runs," Padres manager Bud Black
said. "On a night like tonight with the wind blowing straight out
you'd say, 'That's OK. We just didn't do it on the offensive side.'"
Cubs right fielder Justin Ruggiano was 2-for-3 with two RBIs and one
run scored while second baseman Emilio Bonifacio marked his return
off the disabled list with a 2-for-5 performance.
The Cubs scored in the first, third and fifth innings for a 3-0 lead
while Hendricks allowed three hits through the early innings.
The first run came in with one out in the first as Ruggiano's
sacrifice fly to right scored Bonifacio. Rizzo made it 2-0 in the
third with a leadoff, first-pitch shot to the back of the
right-field bleachers for his 24th home run of the season.
Ruggiano collected his second RBI of the game in the fifth, scoring
shortstop Starlin Castro from second with a two-out single for a 3-0
advantage.
Stults left after five long innings and throwing 103 pitches. He
gave up three earned runs on six hits, walked three and struck out
seven.
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Center fielder Arismendy Alcantara sent a towering home run to right
and out of the park off Padres right-handed reliever Blaine Boyer in
the seventh inning for a 4-0 lead. The homer -- a solo shot -- was
his second in nine games with the Cubs.
Rizzo then took Boyer's 2-1 pitch for a solo homer to left for a 5-0
lead and his seventh career multi-homer game.
"(Rizzo is) a guy with big power, and in this ballpark with the wind
blowing out it shows," Black said. "He's a good player, they're
giving him his at-bats and he's producing."
With two outs in the seventh, catcher Welington Castillo's double to
right-center scored Ruggiano for a 6-0 lead.
NOTES: The series also features night games on Wednesday and
Thursday before the Padres head to Atlanta. The Cubs remain home for
a three-game weekend set with the Cardinals. ... The Padres sent 3B
Chase Headley to the New York Yankees in exchange for INF Yangervis
Solate and RHP Rafael De Paula. Solarte, 27, was batting .254 in 75
games for the Yankees, while De Paula, 23, was 6-5 with a 4.15 ERA
in 20 games for Class A Tampa. ... Cubs 1B Anthony Rizzo was
selected the National League Player of the Week for games through
Sunday after leading the majors with three home runs, 14 total bases
and a 1.273 slugging percentage. ... Chicago activated INF/OF Emilio
Bonifacio from the 15-day disabled list and recalled RHP Kyle
Hendricks from Triple-A Iowa. Bonifacio was inserted as leadoff
batter, while Hendricks got the start. ... The Cubs designated 2B
Darwin Barney for assignment after he batted .230 in 72 games.
Barney was a 2012 Gold Glove winner. ... On Wednesday, the Padres
send RHP Ian Kennedy (7-9, 3.62 ERA) against Cubs LHP Tsuyoshi Wada
(0-0, 0.00 ERA). Wada will make his second start of the season.
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