Cubs right-hander Kyle Hendricks has now sandwiched two bad outings around one good one after blowing a lead Thursday in Pittsburgh.
His team put him ahead 2-0 and 4-1. He was cruising along until a three-run sixth in which he gave up two doubles before his removal. He finished having surrendered three runs in 5 1/3 innings with no walks and two strikeouts. His lone blemish before the fifth came courtesy of a Sean Rodriguez home run.
Hendricks, whose ERA rose to 5.76 and has yet to register a decision in three starts, will attempt to snag his first win in another matchup against Pirates left-hander Jeff Locke next Tuesday.