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 Thankfully, Kyle Hendricks had them covered.
The right-hander threw 5 1/3 perfect innings and struck out eight,
leading the Cubs to a 1-0 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers that
put them a game behind the Pirates in the wild-card race.
Pittsburgh lost 3-1 to Cincinnati on Saturday night so a Cubs
victory on Sunday in the season finale, paired with a loss by the
Pirates, would leave both teams 97-65. Chicago would secure the top
wild-card spot by virtue of a tiebreaker and would play host to the
game on Wednesday night at Wrigley Field.
"We waited to celebrate our game until after that game was
concluded," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said. "It's pretty interesting,
isn't it? I'm really proud of our guys. We left way too many guys on
base. But we pitched well enough to win."
Hendricks (8-7) allowed one hit over six innings before exiting. He
got Chicago off on the right foot, breezing through the Brewers'
lineup. He struck out five out of six at one point and needed only
79 pitches to get through his outing.
"I thought that was Kyle's best performance of the year," Maddon
said. "Best stuff, best movement, best everything. I thought Kyle
was really good tonight. It's one of those things, regardless of
what happens going forward, moving into next season he's going to
feel really good about it.
"The whole group, pitching-wise, seems to be in really shape right
now."
Milwaukee finally got its first baserunner of the night with one out
in the sixth when catcher Martin Maldonado singled up the middle,
but Hendricks retired the next two in order to get out of the inning
and turn things over to the bullpen.
"I was thinking about [a no-hitter], for sure," Hendricks said.
"After a while, you can't help it. But at the end of the day all I'm
trying to do is make good pitches. It was a good outing for me."
Milwaukee right-hander Tyler Wagner (0-2) made his third career
start and allowed seven hits and two walks in six innings but held
Chicago to one run while striking out three.
"This was a big confidence builder for him," Brewers manager Craig
Counsell said. "He just pitched like Tyler Wagner pitches.
"The first two times we didn't really see that but tonight his
off-speed was involved and it got them off his fastball. I thought
he started getting through the ball with his fastball and getting
sink with his fastball.
"That line score is a line score I saw in the minor leagues a lot -
six or seven innings with one run. He gives up some hits, but he
gets himself out of trouble with ground balls."
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The Cubs had several chances early against Wagner but managed one
run in the second when left fielder Chris Coghlan tripled and scored
on a base hit by shortstop Addison Russell.
The Cubs stranded 12 runners in the game and went just 2-for-13 with
runners in scoring position.
"It's not like it was anything new tonight, leaving runners stranded
at third base, it has been a problem all year," Maddon said. "But I
love the attitude. We keep getting after it."
Milwaukee's only chance of the night came in the eight when it put
runners at the corners with one out against right-hander Fernando
Rodney, but Maldonado chopped into a double play, preserving the
shutout.
"You need to create more opportunities," Counsell said. "When you
are looking at one opportunity, you obviously want to capitalize on
it, but they turned a nice double play. Bryant made a nice play on
the ball."
NOTES: Cubs starters have combined for a 0.20 ERA (one earned run in
45 1/3 innings) in the last seven games. ... The Brewers have been
shut out 16 times this season while the Cubs have shut opponents out
21 times in 2015. ... Brewers LF Khris Davis has hit 21 of his
team-leading 27 home runs since the All-Star break, the second most
in the National League during that stretch. Davis' 48 RBIs since the
break are fifth best in the league. ... Chicago was won 10 of the
last 11 meetings with the Brewers and leads the season series 13-5.
... The regular season concludes Sunday with Brewers RHP Jorge Lopez
(1-0, 5.40 ERA) facing Cubs RHP Dan Haren (10-9, 3.67).
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