Hendricks hurls gem vs. Giants, takes no-hitter into eighth

SAN FRANCISCO — The Chicago Cubs, mired in fourth place within the National League Central, badly wanted a sequence victory towards the Giants. They earned that Saturday, however practically obtained rather more.

Right-hander Kyle Hendricks carried a no-hitter into the eighth inning and was 4 outs away from throwing the primary within the Majors this yr earlier than Giants left fielder Mitch Haniger smashed a full-count pitch into the hole in left-center area for a clear two-out double.

Hendricks obtained a fast third out and obtained to look at Julian Merryweather end a mixed one-hitter and a 4-0 victory, giving the Cubs an opportunity to brush the sequence Sunday and return to Chicago with a good 5-5 journey by way of San Diego, Anaheim and San Francisco.

Hendricks’ lone blemish earlier than the Haniger hit was a one-out stroll to Michael Conforto within the second inning.

The 33-year-old career-long Cub was making an attempt to throw the 18th no-hitter in franchise historical past in simply his fourth begin of the season after lacking practically 11 months with a torn capsule in his proper shoulder.

Pitch rely turned a difficulty for Hendricks though Giants hitters have been aggressive and made many early-count outs. Hendricks threw 81 pitches by way of seven innings. He had not gone past six innings or 86 pitches in any of his first three begins coming off rehab.

But the primary two Giants hitters within the eighth inning aided Hendricks by grounding out on a complete of 4 pitches.

The end result of the sport didn’t appear doubtful.

Matt Mervis homered off Jakob Junis to guide off the third inning. Christopher Morel broke an 0-for-22 with a homer towards Junis to begin the fourth and added a two-out, two-run single within the fifth to chase Junis.

Mike Tauchman had a key hit within the inning, a double that put two runners in scoring place with one out, however he helped Hendricks rather more in heart area.

With one out within the third, Tauchman was shaded towards left-center when Brandon Crawford hit a drive to the warning monitor proper of straightaway heart. Tauchman robbed Crawford of what regarded like additional bases with a lunging catch, holding on to the ball as he crashed onto the dust.

Tauchman performed for the Giants in 2021 and is remembered in San Francisco for a single catch, when he leaped over the left-field wall at Dodger Stadium with two outs within the ninth inning of a tie recreation to rob Albert Pujols of what regarded for all of the world to be a walk-off residence run.