Hendricks goes distance for Cubs' 4th straight win

Photo by Jennifer Stewart / USATODAY

by Tony Crumpton - Senior Editor - Saturday, May 28, 2016, 5:50 PM

Chicago -- Kyle Hendricks tossed his second career complete game as the Cubs defeated Philadelphia 4-1 on Saturday for their fourth consecutive win.

Hendricks (3-4, 2.93) allowed just five hits, no walks and struck out seven in his best outing of the season. It was his first complete game since tossing a complete game shutout, May 21, 2015 against the Padres at Petco Park. Cubs starting pitchers have gone 4-0 with a 2.28 ERA (7 ER/27.2 IP) in the last four games, and the starting staff is now 27-10 with a 2.52 ERA (84 ER/300.1 IP) on the season.

Dexter Fowler got the Cubs off to an impressive start with his second leadoff home run of the season in the bottom of the first. It was his 16th-career leadoff home run and seventh with the Cubs.

Cubs also got RBI doubles from Ben Zobrist and Jason Heyward in the first two innings for all the runs Hendricks would need on the afternoon..

Chicago improved to 20-3 this season when scoring first and 26-5 when hitting at least one homer. The Cubs are now 33-14 on the season which leads all of major league baseball.

The Cubs will go for the three-game sweep on Sunday against the Phillies at 1:20 p.m. CT. John Lackey (4-2, 3.38 ERA) will face off with RHP Vince Velasquez (5-1, 2.75 ERA).