Kyle Hendricks saw what the White Sox’ lineup could do after it slugged six home runs in the Cubs’ 10-1 loss Friday.
The Cubs’ ace was able to keep the Sox under control most of the night in his start Saturday at Wrigley Field, but the long ball eventually got him and the Cubs in a 7-4 loss as the Sox would hit another five home runs.
Hendricks (3-3) allowed only two runs in his first five innings — on Luis Robert’s two-run blast in the second inning that gave the Sox an early lead.
The Cubs tied it in the bottom of the second on designated hitter Victor Caratini’s two-run double, and the veteran righty settled in.
After Robert’s home run, no Sox baserunner would reach third base until the sixth inning.
That’s when things took a turn.
Hendricks fell behind against Sox first baseman Jose Abreu to lead off the sixth, and Abreu made him pay.
He drilled a solo home run to right field on a 2-0 sinker to give the Sox a 3-2 lead. Abreu added homers in the eighth and ninth innings to increase the Sox’ lead.
In 5⅓ innings, Hendricks allowed three runs and seven hits. He struck out three and walked one.
It was only the second time this season that he failed to go six innings.
The Cubs weren’t able to get much going offensively until late in the game. They added one run in the eighth and one in the ninth.
Quintana ready to return
The Cubs have an open spot in the rotation Tuesday, when the team travels to Detroit to face the Tigers, and left-hander Jose Quintana might be in line to fill that spot.
Quintana threw a final bullpen session Friday and appears to be ready to return from the injured list.
Manager David Ross says those conversations are being had, including discussions about bringing Quintana out of the bullpen.
“We’ve had conversations with [Quintana] on how we want to build him back into the team, and that is an option,” Ross said.
Ross also noted that right-hander Tyler Chatwood, who is eligible to come off the injured list Sunday, Adbert Alzolay and Colin Rea could be in play for Tuesday’s start, as well.
