Chicago Cubs Score and Recap (Simulated Game 11): Cubs 7, Pirates 1 – Kyle Hendricks Pitches Gem with 8 Strikeouts

After a slow start to the simulated season, the Chicago Cubs (6-5) appear to be getting into a grove. That may have something to do with playing against the Pittsburgh Pirates (4-7), who have helped the Cubs offense break out over the last two days. Chicago jumped all over Pittsburgh starter Joe Musgrove in the first few innings and cruised to an easy 7-1 victory, via MLB The Show 20.

Kris Bryant doubled to start the game, continuing his streak of red-hot hitting. Anthony Rizzo drilled a single to right field, bringing Bryant around for a quick 1-0 lead. Musgrove got the next two outs, but then walked Ian Happ, David Bote, and Jason Heyward to force in a run and make it 2-0.

The Cubs added two more runs in the 3rd inning on a Willson Contreras single and Kyle Schwarber two-run homer, pushing their lead on Musgrove and the Pirates to 4-0. They knocked the right-hander out of the game after just four innings and four earned runs on four hits and four walks with three strikeouts.

Meanwhile, Kyle Hendricks was absolutely dominant. After a dismal showing in his last start, in which Hendricks was only able to complete two innings against these same Pirates. The right-hander carved up the lineup in this rematch, going seven innings with four hits and one walk allowed, with just one earned run and eight strikeouts.

The only blemish on Hendricks’ record came in the bottom of the 6th, when shortstop Kevin Newman hit a one-out solo homer. That changed the score to 4-1 for a moment, but the Cubs got it right back and then some. Rizzo singled to start the 7th and was followed by a two-run homer from Contreras. Bryant hit a solo shot with two outs in the 8th for good measure, making it 7-1.

Casey Sadler and Jeremy Jeffress pitched scoreless innings in relief of Hendricks, closing out the victory and giving Craig Kimbrel a much needed day off. The Cubs have earned a guaranteed split of this four-game set at PNC Park and they’ll be looking to win it on Thursday when Yu Darvish faces off against former Cubs prospect Chris Archer.

Key Players:

Bryant – 2-for-6, 2B, HR, RBI
Contreras – 3-for-4, HR, 2 RBI
Schwarber – 1-for-4, HR, 2 RBI
Hendricks – 7 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 8 K
Newman – 2-for-4, HR, RBI
Frazier – 1-for-4, 2B

Winning Pitcher – Hendricks (1-1)
Losing Pitcher – Musgrove (1-2)
Save – none
Home Runs – Schwarber (2), Contreras (4), Bryant (2), Newman (2)

Season Stats Update:

Rizzo – 44 AB, .295/.367/.523, 3 HR, 7 RBI
Bryant – 43 AB, .395/.491/.651, 2 HR, 6 RBI
Báez – 42 AB, .238/.277/.405, 2 HR, 7 RBI
Schwarber – 41 AB, .220/.304/.366, 2 HR, 5 RBI
Bote – 32 AB, .437/.500/.687, 2 HR, 14 RBI
Contreras – 30 AB, .367/.459/.800, 4 HR, 11 RBI
Happ – 28 AB, .250/.361/.357, 0 HR, 6 RBI
Heyward – 24 AB, .294/.414/.458, 1 HR, 3 RBI
Souza – 19 AB, .316/.333/.474, 1 HR, 3 RBI
Kipnis – 15 AB, .000/.167/.000, 0 HR, 0 RBI
Caratini – 15 AB, .200/.200/.200, 0 HR, 1 RBI
Almora – 15 AB, .467/.600/.933, 1 HR, 4 RBI
Phegley – 9 AB, .333/.333/.444, 0 HR, 0 RBI

Hendricks – 3 GS, 1-1, 14 1/3 IP, 15 K, 1 BB, 6.28 ERA
Darvish – 2 GS, 2-0, 13 IP, 15 K, 7 BB, 3.46 ERA
Quintana – 2 GS, 0-1, 11 1/3 IP, 12 K, 5 BB, 5.56 ERA
Lester – 2 GS, 0-1, 10 IP, 5 K, 3 BB, 4.50 ERA
Chatwood – 2 GS, 0-0, 8 1/3 IP, 7 K, 6 BB, 5.40 ERA

Maples – 1 1/3 IP, 1 K, 2 BB, 20.25 ERA, 0/0 SV
Winkler – 2 2/3 IP, 2 K, 3 BB, 16.88 ERA, 0/0 SV
Tepera – 3 1/3 IP, 1 K, 1 BB, 0.00 ERA, 0/0 SV
Wick – 4 1/3 IP, 5 K, 1 BB, 2.08 ERA, 0/1 SV
Jeffress – 4 2/3 IP, 4 K, 4 BB, 7.71 ERA, 0/0 SV
Sadler – 5 1/3 IP, 0 K, 3 BB, 3.38 ERA, 0/1 SV
Ryan – 5 1/3 IP, 5 K, 4 BB, 5.06 ERA, 0/1 SV
Kimbrel – 6 1/3 IP, 8 K, 4 BB, 2.84 ERA, 3/3 SV
Mills – 6 2/3 IP, 10 K, 2 BB, 4.05 ERA, 0/0 SV