Marlins left empty-handed in series-opening loss to Kyle Hendricks, Cubs
CHICAGO (AP) -- Adam Conley was tremendous in July, going unbeaten with a sparkling 1.82 ERA. When the calendar turned to August, he couldn't find the plate.
Conley struggled with his command and labored through four innings and the Marlins gave him no offense to work with, getting shut down by Kyle Hendricks in a 5-0 loss to the Chicago Cubs on Monday night.
"Those first two innings, mechanically, I just wasn't putting myself into position to get on top of the ball and with my slot and moving parts," Conley said. "You saw me miss east and west a lot more."
He was no match for Hendricks, who pitched a seven-hitter for his second career shutout and providing the Chicago's bullpen a needed breather.
"He's a great team player and he's just a joy to be around," manager Joe Maddon said. "Then he goes and does that."
After a wild, 12-inning win a night earlier in which Maddon used 22 players, Hendricks (10-7) threw a career-high 123 pitches and lowered his ERA to 2.22, third-best in the majors. He allowed three walks and struck out five.
Anthony Rizzo finished a home run shy of the cycle and reached base five times and Addison Russell had a two-run single in the first off Conley (7-6). The lefty walked six, one intentionally, and hit a batter while needing 97 pitches to get through four innings.
"I think we had three 0-2s and one 1-2 and we didn't make pitches during those counts," Marlins manager Don Mattingly said.
The Cubs stranded nine runners through four innings to keep the Marlins close. But then Hendricks drove in Willson Contreras with a grounder through a drawn-in infield off Dustin McGowan in the fifth.
Rizzo tripled and scored on Javier Baez's sacrifice fly in the sixth.
The Marlins were blanked for the seventh time this season and it marked the second time Hendricks came through with a depleted bullpen. He tossed 6 2/3 innings in a June victory at Cincinnati a night after Chicago's 15-inning win.
"He did a nice job with us," Mattingly said. "That change of speed, he uses his changeup a lot. It's still an area where we're going to have to get better."
Hendricks got help in his second complete game this season. Shortstop Rizzo barehanded a slow roller to get Conley with the bases loaded to end the second.
Center fielder Jason Heyward and second baseman Baez combined on a relay to throw out Derek Dietrich going for a triple in the fourth. Dietrich's had a game-ending triple for Miami a day earlier.
And Contreras threw out Dee Gordon stealing second in the fifth as the Marlins lost a series opener for the fourth straight time.
"We just played tremendous Gold Glove defense tonight," Maddon said. "We won that game because of our starting pitching and defense."
ICHIRO UPDATE
Marlins OF Ichiro Suzuki, two hits shy of 3,000, received a standing ovation when he pinch hit in the seventh. Suzuki lined a 1-0 pitch to Kris Bryant at third, leaving him in a 2-for-18 slump. Bryant threw to first for a double play.
Mattingly hinted Ichiro may not start until Wednesday's series finale against RHP John Lackey. Ichiro's 37 hits off Lackey are his most vs. any pitcher.
LOSING REA
After trading injured RHP Colin Rea back to San Diego before the game, Mattingly suggested RHP David Phelps could fill the rotation spot.
YELICH AT WRIGLEY
Marlins LF Christian Yelich, who went 1 for 4, has hit safely in all 10 games he's played at Wrigley Field. It's the second-longest active streak behind the 15-game stretch of San Francisco's Hunter Pence.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Marlins: INF Justin Bour (ankle), who hit a grand slam off Hendricks in June, had soreness after Sunday's minor league rehab game and took Monday off.
Cubs: Hoyer declined to predict a return date for OF Jorge Soler (hamstring), batting .115 in eight minor league rehab games.
UP NEXT
Marlins ace Jose Fernandez (12-5, 2.79 ERA) starts Tuesday night against Cubs RHP Jason Hammel (10-5, 3.23).
