The Chicago Cubs’ magic number for clinching the National League Central Division title dropped to three Monday night at Busch Stadium. The Cardinals’ magic number was one, as in the number of hits they had.
Cubs offspeed specialist Kyle Hendricks, who has been the best pitcher in the majors the last three months, nearly threw the first no-hitter tossed against the Cardinals in St. Louis since Mal Eason of the Brooklyn Superbas in 1906. Hendricks, 15-7, stymied the Cardinals for eight innings before Jeremy Hazelbaker belted an 0-2 changeup, Hendricks’ 96th pitch, for his 12th homer, and the Cardinals’ only hit, leading off the ninth inning.