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 Hendricks allowed one run and three hits over seven strong
innings Monday afternoon and Baez provided the Cubs insurance with a
mammoth two-run homer in the ninth inning of a 4-1 win over the New
York Mets at Citi Field.
The right-handed Hendricks is the first Cubs rookie to throw six
straight quality starts since Kerry Wood did it twice in 1998. But
Hendricks has been so impressively precise during his run -- he has
allowed 31 hits and eight walks while going 5-1 with a 1.02 ERA over
the six starts, a span of 42 2/3 innings -- that he is eliciting
comparisons to newly minted Hall of Famer Greg Maddux.
"I reserve the right not to pigeonhole him (by) comparing him to
anybody," Renteria said with a grin.
Alas, the first-year manager couldn't help himself.
"I know it's a short snippet," Renteria said. "But he's been very,
very good. And boy, he is Maddux-like in his execution and his
approach."
Hendricks (5-1) walked two and struck out three in lowering his ERA
to 1.66 through seven starts. He didn't allow a runner past first in
the first three innings but said he didn't feel as if he got into a
groove until he gave up a solo homer to Mets first baseman Lucas
Duda with one out in the fourth.
That was the last hit allowed by Hendricks, who issued just two
walks the rest of the way.
"I wasn't that sharp," Hendricks said. "But then I made that mistake
to Duda and it kind of locked me in a little bit."
It appeared as if Duda's homer might cost Hendricks the win when the
Cubs were shutout through five innings by right-hander Carlos
Torres, who made an emergency start after right-hander Bartolo Colon
was scratched so he could travel to the Dominican Republic to be
with his critically ill mother.
But the Cubs tied the game in the sixth, when first baseman Anthony
Rizzo greeted left-hander Dana Eveland with a double and scored one
out later on a single by third baseman Luis Valbuena.
Rizzo broke the tie with a one-out solo homer in the eighth off
right-hander Buddy Carlyle (1-1).
The homer that had everyone buzzing afterward, though, was hit by
Baez, who launched a shot into the second deck in left field with
one out in the ninth.
 It was only the fifth career homer for Baez, who was recalled from
Triple-A Iowa on Aug. 5. Yet the Cubs are already becoming
accustomed to such blasts.
"That's difficult right there," Hendricks said. "Not really shocking
for us, but he can do that at any time."
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Baez's homer evoked memories of another right-handed slugger -- Tigers
first baseman Miguel Cabrera, who tucked a home run into a staircase
along the second deck in left field at Citi Field last August.
"Oh gosh," Renteria said when asked to whom he would compare Baez. "He
struck the ball well."
Right-hander Neil Ramirez threw a perfect eighth and right-hander Hector
Rondon earned his 18th save with a one-hit ninth for the Cubs (54-70),
who won the final two games of the four-game series.
The Mets (59-67) had just four hits, the franchise record-tying fifth
straight game in which they were limited to four hits or less.
Torres, who pitched one-third of an inning Sunday, is the third pitcher
in Mets history to start a game the day after he pitched in relief. He
allowed three hits and two walks while striking out six, including the
side in the first, which he ended by whiffing Rizzo -- whom Torres
struck out to end the eighth inning Sunday.
"A tough assignment, especially when he pitched yesterday," Mets manager
Terry Collins said. "He gave us five quality innings. We just couldn't
give him any help."
NOTES: The 12:10 p.m. ET start made it impossible for the Mets to place
scheduled starter Bartolo Colon on the bereavement list prior to
Monday's game, but manager Terry Collins said the Mets would do so
Tuesday, when the Mets begin a five-game West Coast swing in Oakland.
... Mets RHP Matt Harvey (Tommy John surgery) threw in the bullpen
Monday morning. ... Mets 3B David Wright, who sat out Sunday's game
after being hit by a pitch in the left shoulder Saturday night, went
0-for-4. ... Cubs LHP Felix Doubront (calf) threw six innings Sunday in
his second rehab start for Triple-A Iowa. ... Cubs OF Matt Szczur
started in left field, batted eighth and went 0-for-3 in his first major
league start.
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