MLB Roundup: Cubs Clamp Down on Rays Again
Kyle Hendricks allowed one run over five innings in his second 2023 start and Mike Tauchman’s tiebreaking RBI single in the sixth made the Tampa Bay Rays pay for some shoddy defense, sending the host Chicago Cubs to a 2–1 victory on Tuesday night.
Hendricks returned from a shoulder injury last Thursday, allowing five runs—three earned—in 4 1/3 innings against the New York Mets, in his first start since July 5. On Tuesday, he looked more comfortable, yielding only a fifth-inning run, plus six hits and three walks while striking out three.
Then, a Cubs bullpen that had posted an 8.05 ERA in its previous 50 1/3 innings got a stellar inning each from Julian Merryweather (1–0) and Mark Leiter and two from Adbert Alzolay (second save) to claim a second straight one-run win over the MLB-leading Rays….