(670 The Score) The magic that Cubs ace Kyle Hendricks had in his first career Opening Day start in 2020 eluded him in his second such outing Thursday.
Hendricks lasted just three innings in the Cubs' 5-3 loss to the Pirates at Wrigley Field, allowing three runs, all earned, on four hits while walking three and striking out four. It marked Hendricks' shortest outing since Aug. 10, 2019 and was quite different than his Opening Day start last July in the shortened season, when he threw a shutout to lead the Cubs to a win against the Brewers.
Of course, one key difference Thursday was that it was 36 degrees at first pitch at Wrigley Field with a wind chill in the 20s. Hendricks' lack of command in walking three batters was surprising, as he walked just 0.9 batters per nine innings in 2020. Issuing a leadoff walk in the top of the first hurt Hendricks and the Cubs, as Pirates third baseman Ke'Bryan Hayes followed with a two-run homer.
"From pitch one it was a battle out there," Hendricks said of his fastball issues. "It was a fight for me. I really don't have a good balance point right now. That is usually a small adjustment for me, but obviously, I will have to put in some work. I need to get through the baseball better. Command-wise, beginning with my fastball, was terrible. Lead-off walks and guys getting on base just set a terrible tone."
Command was an issue for more than just Hendricks, as the Cubs bullpen combined to walk eight Pirates in six innings of work. The first seven pitchers the Cubs used Thursday walked at least one batter.
"That was a tough thing to watch," Cubs manager David Ross said. "We actually gave up 12 free passes, having hit a batter. You have to fill up the strike zone. That is especially true on a cold day at Wrigley. The walks are going to hurt you."
The Cubs scored all three of their runs on sacrifice flys, the first time that had been the case for them since June 25, 1958. Their offense managed just two hits, so it was a bad day for many Cubs beyond Hendricks.
"I told Kyle he can't throw a three-hit shutout every Opening Day," first baseman Anthony Rizzo said. "Whenever he takes the mound, we are expecting him to go deep in the game. The cold here is a whole other element."
Bruce Levine covers the Cubs and White Sox for 670 The Score. Follow him on Twitter @MLBBruceLevine.
