Hendricks Carries Cubs Past Chihuahuas

Des Moines, IA - RH Kyle Hendricks took a perfect game into the sixth inning and allowed one run in 7.2 innings, while Javier Baez provided support with three hits and four RBI in helping the Iowa Cubs (37-35) beat the El Paso Chihuahuas (34-41) 8-3 before the fifth-largest crowd in Principal Park history of 14,128 on Friday night. The Cubs won the final three games of the four-game series and have their longest winning streak since taking three in a row against Colorado Springs May 24-26.

Hendricks retired the first 15 hitters on six groundballs, four flyballs and five strikeouts before surrendering a broken bat infield hit to Jonathan Galvez to leadoff the sixth inning. He got a double play and strikeout to finish the frame, but ran into trouble for the first time in the seventh. An Alex Castellanos double and Tyler Greene single to start the frame produced the first El Paso run. Hendricks then set down the next five hitters and finished his outing at 85 pitches. Hendricks didn't walk a hitter for the third time this year, struck out six and the three hits he gave up were the second-fewest he's allowed in an outing this year. The right-hander posted his ninth quality start -- and third in a row -- in 14 starts this season.

RHs Armando Rivero and Arodys Vizcaino relived Hendricks by making their Iowa Cubs debut. Rivero struck out the only hitter he faced in his first career triple-A appearance. Vizcaino started the ninth, but he was charged with two earned runs as five of the six hitters reached off of him (four hits, one walks). RH Alberto Cabrera entered with the bases loaded and induced a pop out and strikeout to end the game and pick up his first save in 67 career appearances with Iowa.

The Cubs bats backed Hendricks with six runs in the first four innings off Chihuahuas RH Donn Roach. Arismendy Alcantara doubled to deep center to lead off the first, and a batter later, Baez roped a two-bagger high off the right field wall to give the Cubs an early lead. Baez drove in Alcantara again -- and Hendricks, who helped himself with an infield single -- with a broken bat two-run bloop single into right field in the third inning. The I-Cubs' biggest outburst came an inning later, and once again Alcantara and Baez found themselves in the middle of it. After a Matt Szczur RBI double, Alcantara drew a one-out walk to load the bases and Welington Castillo, on Major League rehab assignment, hit into a fielder's choice to plate another run. Baez continued his excellent night by lining a single into right for his fourth RBI of the night to give the Cubs a 6-0 lead.

Baez had three hits in four at-bats and tied his season-high with four RBI. He has a team-best 42 runs batted in on the season and the 17 Baez has in June are his most in any month this season. Alcantara reached base three times, collecting two doubles and a walk, while scoring two runs. The second baseman has a team-high 35 extra-base hits and that total ranks fourth in the PCL. Alcantara has reached base safely in 15 of his last 16 games, batting .368 (21-57) in that span, and has scored 15 runs in 16 games out of the leadoff spot on the year.

Watkins provided the Cubs with their final tallies of the night by launching a long two-run homer to the party deck in right-center field against RH Keyvius Sampson. The long ball was Watkins' second of the year -- and first since April 16 -- and 25th of his professional career. The Cubs have homered in a season-high seven games.

The Cubs recorded 11 hits on the night and are 18-1 when they have at least 10 hits in the game.

Roach allowed six runs on eight hits and two walks, but struck out six in five innings. He surrendered a season-high in runs and hits in 19 appearances (four starts) between San Diego and El Paso this season.

The Cubs continue their eight-game home stand by starting a four-game series with the Albuquerque Isotopes on Saturday night at 7:05 from Principal Park. LH Chris Rusin (4-9, 4.02) takes the mound for the Cubs against RH Carlos Frias (4-4, 5.52). The game will be broadcast live on AM 940 and streamed live at iowacubs.com with the On-Deck Circle Pre-Game Show starting at 6:45 p.m.