Kyle Hendricks makes unwanted history in first inning vs. Braves

Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Kyle Hendricks had a first inning to forget on Sunday night against the Atlanta Braves.

The Chicago Cubs defeated the Atlanta Braves 13-4 on Saturday night to even up the weekend series. Cubs fans must have felt confident entering Sunday, as ace Kyle Hendricks was set to take the mound. The hope ended just there for the Cubs.

In the top of the first inning, Hendricks surrendered four home runs to the Braves to put them at a 6-0 deficit to start the game. With that, Hendricks is now the first pitcher in Cubs history to allow four home runs in the first inning, and the ninth player in MLB history to accomplish this “feat.”

Cubs: Kyle Hendricks first player in team history to allow four home runs in the first inning

Things seemed to be going well for Hendricks after he got Braves star outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. to ground out. But then, Hendricks surrendered a massive, 420-foot solo home run to first baseman Freddie Freeman in the very next at-bat.

From there, Hendricks surrendered a two-run home run to catcher Travis d’Arnaud, a solo shot to second baseman Ehire Adrianza and another two-RBI homer to outfielder Guillermo Heredia. That put the Cubs in a 6-0 hole to start things off in the Windy City on Sunday night. Not ideal, for sure.

Hendricks did receive some backup from teammate and first baseman Anthony Rizzo, who hit two solo home runs in his first two at-bats for the game. But it was not good enough, as Hendricks exited after surrendering seven earned runs on seven hits in four innings of work in Chicago’s 13-4 loss on Sunday.

Hendricks has entered the history books, albeit not the way he would have liked.