MLB Playoffs: Cubs’ Travis Wood replaces injured Kyle Hendricks, jacks home run (Video)

Chicago Cubs starter Kyle Hendricks was forced to leave due to an injury in Game 2 of the NLDS. Travis Wood came in and helped his own cause with a solo homer

Kyle Hendricks had been lights-out to end the regular season for the Chicago Cubs prior to the MLB Playoffs. The Cubs starter had allowed just four runs in his last seven starts at Wrigley Field combined. So him being on the hill for Game 2 in the NLDS at Wrigley seemed like a great sign. However, a comebacker up the middle in the top of the fourth inning caught Hendricks in the arm and forced him out of the game. That brought Travis Wood onto the mound in relief.

Cubs fans are familiar with the inconsistency of Wood, surely. However, he got out of the fourth inning unscathed and with Chicago still holding a 4-2 lead. The pitcher was due up in the bottom of the inning and he was sure to make the most of it.

After not expecting to see any action at all in Game 2 (or at least this much action), Travis Wood stepped up to the plate and helped his own cause. The Cubs pitcher hammered one into left field and over the wall for a solo home run:

When your pitchers are raking like that, things just might be going your way.

Obviously Wood hitting a home run is fantastic for the Cubs’ cause—but not as fantastic as him dealing against the Giants for a lengthy outing in relief would be. Whether that happens is still yet to be determined. However, Wood definitely got off to a nice start in terms of helping his own cause with Hendricks out of the action.