RHP Kyle Hendricks helped put runs on the board for the Cubs but was taken out in the 4th inning after being with a line drive to the arm. . (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
In the opening game of the NLDS the Chicago Cubs needed just a solo homerun by Javier Baez to take the 1-0 victory over the San Francisco Giants, backing a solid start by Jon Lester.
In Game 2, Cubs’ starter Kyle Hendricks took the mound against the Giants’ Jeff Samardzija, who was also drafted and played for the Cubs at the beginning of his career.
The Cubs picked up right where they left off last night, as they took 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first. Dexter Fowler hit a leadoff double on a line drive to right field and it would take a RBI single by Ben Zobrist to send him home and put Chicago on the board.
The Cubs tagged Samardzija again in the second when Jason Heyward started the inning with a double to right field. Samardzija then walked Javier Baez and loaded the bases with a single by Willson Contreras.
Kyle Hendricks then cushioned the Cubs’ lead with a two run single for a three run advantage. Chicago then got another rn on the board before the inning ended with a RBI single by Kris Bryant to make it 4-0.
The Cubs would chase Samardzija after just two innings of work allowing four runs on six hits; walking one and striking out just one hitter.
The Giants finally got their first runs of the series in the top of the third when Gregor Blanco hit a RBI double to send home Joe Panik. Blanco then scored the second run of the inning with a sac fly by Brandon Belt.
Kyle Hendricks however, didn’t make it past the fourth inning after he was removed from the game after being hit in the arm by a line drive off the bat of Angel Pagan. Hendricks was then replaced by Travis Wood to finish out the fourth inning.
Turning to Wood then paid dividends as he hit a solo homerun on a line drive to left in his first at-bat after entering the game making it 5-2.
This was the first postseason homerun by a relief pitcher since the 1924 World Series when Rosy Ryan did so. Wood is also just the third Cubs’ pitcher to hit a postseason homerun in club history. (Rick Sutcliffe and Kerry Wood also hit homers for the Cubs in the postseason.)
With the scoreboard blank on both sides after the fourth inning; closer Aroldis Chapman then came in at the top of the ninth and earned his second save of this postseason and in as many nights.
Travis Wood earned the win since Hendricks left the game before the completion of the fifth inning.
The Chicago Cubs are now up 2-0 in the best of five series over the San Francisco Giants. The Giants will now have to run the table to be able to advance to the NLCS.
Top Performers
San Francisco Giants
Joe Panik: 1 for 3/ R/ DBL
Brandon Belt: 1 for 3/ RBI
Chicago Cubs
Dexter Fowler: 1 for 4/ RBI/ DBL
Travis Wood: 1 for 1/ HR
Kris Bryant: 1 for 4/RBI
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