Cubs' win over Astros marred by fan's injury

[May 30, 2019]    Kyle Hendricks pitched eight effective innings, Kyle Schwarber and Kris Bryant homered, and the visiting Chicago Cubs averted a series sweep at the hands of the Houston Astros with a 2-1 interleague victory Wednesday.

Astros starting pitcher Wade Miley (20) delivers a pitch against the Chicago Cubs during the first inning at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory Credit: Erik Williams-USA TODAY Sports

The game was briefly delayed in the fourth inning when Chicago's Albert Almora Jr. hit a foul ball that struck a young fan in the stands. The Astros confirmed after the game that the child was taken to a hospital but according to Houston radio station KBME 790 AM (SportsTalk790) the fan was expected to be all right.

The incident shook up Almora, who struck out to finish the at-bat. After the half-inning, he was seen sobbing after talking to a security guard stationed near where the child was seated.

Hendricks (5-4) allowed one run on four hits and one walk with seven strikeouts while throwing a season-high 108 pitches.

Despite running into trouble in the bottom of the seventh when he plunked a pair of batters before striking out Jake Marisnick on three pitches, Hendricks returned for the eighth and casually worked around a two-out walk to Michael Brantley.

Hendricks has pitched at least eight innings four times this year, all in May, beginning with an 81-pitch shutout against the St. Louis Cardinals on May 3.

Houston, which closed its 10-game homestand at 6-4, took two of three from Chicago.

Before the game, the Astros placed shortstop Carlos Correa on the 10-day injured list after an exam revealed that he had sustained a fractured rib. In a statement issued through the club, Correa said the injury occurred during a massage at home Tuesday.

The Cubs needed Hendricks to pitch effectively for they had little success against Astros left-hander Wade Miley (5-3), who worked a season-high seven innings and produced a season-best nine strikeouts. Miley allowed two runs on six hits and one walk.

Chicago socked a pair of solo homers off Miley to eke out the victory.

Schwarber belted the third pitch of the game out to left field, his 10th homer providing the Cubs a 1-0 lead.

Bryant doubled that margin with his 13th homer in the third, a 419-foot drive to straightaway center field. Bryant made his first appearance of the series after missing two games following his outfield collision with Jason Heyward on Sunday against the Cincinnati Reds.

The Cubs blasted 10 home runs during the three-game set.

The Astros scratched across their run in the fourth inning when Alex Bregman doubled and later scored on a Josh Reddick sacrifice fly.

--Field Level Media

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