Chicago Cubs starter Kyle Hendricks looked good, even really good in the first inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 2 of the NLCS.
But the dominance of the first inning deserted him in the second for a couple of pitches and Adrian Gonzalez was ready to pounce.
Gonzalez's home run was the only run of the game.
Hendricks had induced four missed swings from Dodgers hitters in the first inning, all on pitches on the outside edge or off the outside corner.
On the fateful pitch, Cubs catcher Willson Contreras set up outside, but Hendricks didn't get the 89-mph outside enough.
It was the lowest pitch that Gonzalez has hit for a home run all season and also the closest to the opposite field that he has hit a home run on a fastball or cutter all season.
Hendricks gave up only two home runs with his cutter all season, the last coming on June 24 against Justin Bour of the Marlins. The home run he gave up Sunday snapped a streak of 17 straight appearances (16 starts) without allowing one.
Elias Sports Bureau stat of the day
Gonzalez has a home run in each of the last six postseason series in which he has played. That's one shy of the "record" shared by David Ortiz, Jim Edmonds, Eddie Murray and Mickey Mantle.
Mantle's accomplishment is the most impressive in that he did it in seven straight World Series.
