Kyle Hendricks launches a white game of 81 shots

CHICAGO – Harrison Bader watched exactly three shots from Cubs starter Kyle Hendricks in the eighth inning on Friday. The Cardinals center field player took a curved ball for the first shot, then admired a pair of changes over the inside edge for a late-run strike.
If some plaque appearance can sum up

CHICAGO – Harrison Bader watched exactly three throws from the Cubs Kyle Hendricks in the eighth inning on Friday. The Cardinals center field player took a curved ball for the first shot, then admired a pair of changes over the inside edge for a late-run strike.

If the appearance of a plate could summarize the accuracy and efficiency of Hendricks this afternoon, it was that one. In a 4-0 win at the renewal of one of baseball's best rivalries in 2019, Hendricks quickly beat the Cardinals in a four-shot white game at Wrigley Field.

Hendricks finished with just 81 shots, scoring the first Maddux (shutout on less than 100 shots) for the Cubs since September 25, 2009 (Carlos Zambrano). This is the first white game in the MLB with less than 90 shots since September 21, 2015 (Jeff Samardzija for the White Sox) and the least throws since June 29, 2012 (81 by Aaron Cook for the Red Sox ).

Full field data has only been available since 1988, but Hendricks' performance is tied with the fourth lowest pitch total in a recorded blank game. Jon Lieber claims the lowest total known with a laundering 78 shots for the Cubs on May 24, 2001 against the Reds.

Anthony Rizzo Hendricks gave more than enough support in the third inning, when the first base player launched a home three-run homer against St. Louis starter Jack Flaherty. The homer was Rizzo's third top scorer, eighth in the season and the 198th success of his career with the Cubs, placing him in a tie with Hank Sauer for ninth place all time.

The Cardinals, leaders at the center of the National League (20-12) – who have a half-game lead over the Cubs (17-12) – have managed four Hendricks singles, but have not not had advance on the second goal. . The right-hander needed less than 10 shots for six of his nine innings, ending with three strikeouts and no goal in the win.