So close.
Chicago Cubs starter Kyle Hendricks got within three outs of a no-hitter against the St. Louis Cardinals on Monday, before a Jeremy Hazelbaker home run spoiled his bid.
So there remains only one no-hitter in 2016, by Hendricks’ teammate Jake Arrieta.
What were the keys to Hendricks’ win?
Hendricks' changeup was outstanding, and he knew it. He threw it 38 percent of the time, his second-highest rate in a start in his career. Cardinals hitters were 0-for-10 with four strikeouts against his changeup prior to the Hazelbaker homer.
When Hendricks got in position to finish Cardinals hitters off, he did. And he got them to swing at pitches out of the strike zone. Hendricks got hitters to chase on eight of his 12 two-strike pitches. The 67 percent two-strike chase rate was his highest this season. Hendricks got 13 two-strike outs and allowed no baserunners prior to that home run.
And he located his pitches effectively. Hendricks threw 62 percent of his pitches across the lower third of the plate and below, his second-highest rate of the season. The 0-2 pitch that Hazelbaker hit out was located low and away, a changeup that caught a little too much of the plate.
That Hendricks had this kind of a game is not that big of a surprise. Since the All-Star Break, he is 8-1, his 1.33 ERA leads the majors and his 0.86 WHIP ranks third. Opponents are hitting .188 during that span, fourth lowest in the majors.
