Cubs 3, Padres 0
SAN DIEGO -- Right-hander Kyle Hendricks pitched a five-hit shutout and rookie infielders Kris Bryant and Addison Russell hit home runs Thursday night as the Chicago Cubs defeated the San Diego Padres 3-0 in the rubber match of a three-game series at Petco Park.
It was the first shutout and complete game for the 25-year-old Hendricks in 21 major league starts.
Hendricks pitched beyond the sixth inning for the first time in eight starts this year and faced only three hitters above the minimum. All five hits off Hendricks were singles -- two being infield singles. He struck out seven without walking a batter.
Padres third baseman Will Middlebrooks had two of the five singles but was erased both times on double play grounders hit by shortstop Alexi Amarista to Russell at second base.
Hendricks, who held the Padres to two runs (on Matt Kemp's only homer of the season) and three hits in six innings on April 18 at Wrigley Field, evened his record at 1-1.
Bryant hit a two-run shot in the first inning before Padres starter Odrisamer Despaigne (2-3) retired a batter. Russell connected while leading off the seventh against Padres right-handed reliever Dale Thayer.
The Cubs took a 2-0 lead on the game's seventh pitch.
Center fielder Dexter Fowler opened the game by drawing a five-pitch walk from Despaigne. Bryant took the first pitch from the Cuban for a strike and lined the second pitch 417 feet for his fifth homer of the season -- and his fifth in the last 12 games.
Cubs left fielder Chris Coghlan led off the second with a double but never advanced. Catcher Miguel Montero doubled with two outs in the third, and Despaigne gave up two-out singles to Russell and Starlin Castro in the fourth and fifth, respectively.
However, the Cubs were unable to score again against Despaigne, who worked six innings, allowing two runs, six hits and two walks (both to Fowler) with four strikeouts.
Chicago extended its lead to 3-0 on Russell's third homer of the season leading off the seventh. He drove the second pitch from Thayer 388 feet into the seats in left.
NOTES: Padres RHP Brandon Morrow threw his first bullpen Thursday afternoon since going on the disabled list May 3 with shoulder inflammation. ... Cubs hitters began the day averaging 4.00 pitches per plate appearance, the highest average in the major leagues. Rookie 3B Kris Bryant ranked second in the National League with 4.33 pitches per plate appearance. ... Bryant extended his hitting streak to 10 games with his first-inning home run.