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Hendricks takes no-hitter into ninth in win over Cardinals

Hendricks takes no-hitter into ninth in win over Cardinals


by - Correspondent -

ST. LOUIS -- So close.

Kyle Hendricks flirted with a no-hitter before giving up a solo homer with no outs in the ninth inning to Jeremy Hazelbaker in the Cubs 4-1 win over Cardinals on Monday night. With the win Chicago reduced its magic number to 3.

Hendricks (15-7) tossed a masterpiece against the rival Cardinals giving up just the one hit, striking out seven and walking two in 8+ innings. Hendricks reduced his ERA to 2.03 with the effort which leads all of baseball.

After the homer by Hazelbaker on a 0-2 pitch, Hendricks left to a standing ovation from Cubs and Cardinals fans. Hazelbaker was an unlikely hero for the Cardinals as he entered the 9th inning at-bat 1-for-25 (.040) before hitting his 12th home run of the season.

Cubs manager Joe Maddon then got tossed by umpire Joe West trying to bring in Aroldis Chapman into the game. West thought the Cubs were stalling with trips to the mound from infielders to get Chapman more time and threw Maddon out when he came to argue the point. Chapman entered the game after the ejection and got the final three outs for his 34th save on the season.

The Cubs got their runs on a solo homer by Ben Zobrist in the second, an RBI single from Anthony Rizzo in the third and a two-run homer from Dexter Fowler in the fifth inning.

Cubs will return to action on Tuesday at 7:15 PM CT when Jason Hammel (14-8, 3.50) faces Jaime Garcia (10-12, 4.58).

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