How Hendricks Played Against His Former Team
The Los Angeles Angels made the series finale interesting on late Sunday afternoon, putting two runners on base against the Chicago Cubs in the bottom of the ninth. The rally came short, sealing a 4-3 loss and a sweep for Chicago. The defeat dropped the Angels to 61-69 on the season and closed out the six-game homestand on a rough note. Sunday’s matchup saw former longtime Cub Kyle Hendricks on the mound for the first time against his former club. Hendricks spent more than a decade with the Cubs, winning a World Series in 2016, before joining the Angels’ rotation this season. He allowed four runs on five hits across just over four innings of work, unable to keep his former teammates off the board.
Taylor Ward provided the first runs of the game, giving the Halos the first and only lead with a solo homer in the first inning. That homer was Ward’s 30th of the season, a career high, and solidifying a career year, and giving the Angels a consistent bat at the plate. The lead would be short-lived for the Angels, as the Cubs rallied back, capitalizing on a few walks and hits to bring in Cub baserunners. Opposing starter Jameson Taillon backed up Chicago’s lead, allowing only two more hits through five innings while Chicago maintained the lead.
The Cubs quickly put pressure on Hendricks in the middle innings. Kyle Tucker drove in a run with a single to left in the third, followed by a run from a Nico Hoerner double in the fourth. Chicago added two more runs in the fifth, as a Pete Crow-Armstrong sacrifice fly and a Carson Kelly single extended the lead. Hendricks’ early exit forced the Angels’ bullpen into action, which limited further damage and gave Los Angeles a chance to fight back.
Despite the bullpen’s effort, the Angels’ offense continued to struggle. The team left six runners on base and failed to capitalize on scoring opportunities. Combined with Hendricks’ early struggles, the result was a 4-3 loss that left the Halos further behind in the wild card race. Pitching and hitting struggles continue to shut the Angels out from winnable games, and with roughly a month remaining in the season, Los Angeles will need more consistent production from both sides of the plate if the team hopes to make a late push. The Angels now head to Texas for a three-game series against the Rangers, one of the five teams currently ahead of them in the postseason standings.
