Maybe Kyle Hendricks had a late afternoon tee time.
Or maybe Hendricks wanted to give the 34,000+ in attendance at Wrigley Field a Friday afternoon to remember -- a reward for the long, soaking-wet week of staying up to watch West Coast baseball.
Whatever the reason, Hendricks pitched masterfully in a complete-game shutout that was over in less than 2.5 hours. It was the 4th complete game of his career, and completed in the fewest pitches (81!) since Jon Lieber threw 78 against the Reds 18 years ago.
“It just doesn’t happen,” Maddon said after the Cubs’ 4-0 over St.