SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — He’s pleased with what he’s seen of Kyle Hendricks since the pitcher left the injured …

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Manager David Ross has been pleased with what he’s seen of Kyle Hendricks since the pitcher was taken off the injured list and was more than happy to let the former Chicago Cubs star rule his game on Saturday permit.

With the way the outing turned out, Hendricks can probably expect to do it more often.

Hendricks didn’t allow a hit until Mitch Haniger doubled with two outs in the eighth inning to beat the Cubs 4-0 over the San Francisco Giants.

“He was in control of his pitches,” Ross said. “It was just a high-level conviction in every pitch where he was in control.”

Hendricks (1-2) was dealing with a batter above the minimum and Michael Conforto with a second-round out and had 19 straight batsmen retired before Haniger hit a fastball 378 feet off the left fieldwall in the eighth play away the at-bat struck. That ended the longest no-hit bid in the major leagues this season.

“He won’t blow you away with his speed, but the move makes his fastball game much better,” Haniger said. “He’s good and mixes pitches all over the zone.”

Blake Sabol flew out on Hendricks’ next pitch.

“The last few starts I felt like I was finding my rhythm and making a lot of good shots,” said Hendricks. “The rhythm was simply better today. I got away with a few things in the beginning, then I really got going in the fourth or fifth inning. There are still some things I need to improve and work on, but I’m definitely feeling good.”

Julian Merryweather was eliminated in the ninth round with three straight batters, completing the one-hitter and giving the Cubs their first straight win since May 29-30.

Christopher Morel hit a home run and drove in three runs, and Matt Mervis also hit a home run.

Hendricks started the season on the injured list with an overstressed right shoulder. He made his season debut on May 25, completing his fourth start. He threw 61 of 94 shots for strikes, none faster than 89.4 miles per hour.

The 33-year-old right-hander, who was in the tenth season of his major league career playing exclusively with the Cubs, has made six full games and four shutouts in 226 starts.

Midfielder Mike Tauchman helped by denying Brandon Crawford an extra base hit near the warning lane with a backhand catch in the third set.

Both Ross and Cubs catcher Miguel Amaya called it one of the best grabs of the season.

“At first glance, I didn’t think I had a chance, but that’s why you go hard, just in case,” Tauchman said.

Morel hit a home run against Jakob Junis (3:3) and led the third round. The ball bounced off the wall back onto the field. Unaware of the decision, Morel raced around bases until second base umpire and crew chief Brian O’Nora signaled the home run.

Morel added a two-out, two-run single in the fifth set.

Giants opener John Brebbia, who also started Tuesday’s win against Colorado, threw two innings without a hit with a strikeout. Brebbia also survived when he was hit by Ian Happ’s 104.9mph bat in the second run.

TRAINING ROOM

Cubs: OF Cody Bellinger (left knee) did some batting practice and ran a little before the game. … RHP Bruce Boxberger (pulled right forearm) threw a 26-pitch bullpen session.

Giants: C Joey Bart was reinstated from the 10-day injured list and selected for Triple-A Sacramento late Friday night. … RHP Scott Alexander (hamstring pain) was unready to play.

NEXT

Cubs RHP Hayden Wesneski (2-2, 4.81 ERA) starts Sunday’s Finals in his first start against San Francisco. Brebbia will play again for the Giants.

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SAN FRANCISCO — The Chicago Cubs, stuck in fourth place in the National League Central, were in desperate need of a series win over the Giants. You earned this Saturday, but almost got more.

Right-hander Kyle Hendricks put up a no-hitter in the eighth inning and was four outs from throwing the Majors’ first pitch of the year before Giants left fielder Mitch Haniger hit a full-count pitch into the gap in the left midfield hit Clean two-out double.

Hendricks quickly grabbed a third out and watched Julian Merryweather complete a combined one-hitter and a 4-0 win, giving the Cubs a chance to win the series on Sunday and with a respectable 5-5 Game against San Diego to return to Chicago. Anaheim and San Francisco.

Hendricks’ only blemish before the Haniger goal was a one-out walk on Michael Conforto in the second inning.

The 33-year-old, longtime Cub was attempting to throw the 18th no-hitter in franchise history in just his fourth start of the season after missing nearly 11 months with a ruptured right shoulder capsule.

Counting pitches became a problem for Hendricks, despite the Giants’ batsmen being aggressive and making many early countouts. Hendricks threw 81 pitches in seven innings. He hadn’t pitched more than six innings or 86 pitches in any of his first three starts after rehab.

But the first two Giants hitters in the eighth inning helped Hendricks by knocking out four pitches total.

The outcome of the game did not seem in doubt.

Matt Mervis hit a home run against Jakob Junis and started the third inning. Christopher Morel broke a 0-for-22 with a home run on Junis early in the fourth set and added a two-out, two-run single in the fifth set to chase Junis down.

Mike Tauchman had a crucial hit in the inning, a double that put two runners in goal position with an out, but he helped Hendricks much more in midfield.

With an out in the third set, Tauchman went left center when Brandon Crawford made a drive to the warning line right of center. Tauchman stole what appeared to be extra bases from Crawford with a sweeping catch and held the ball as it slammed onto the dirt.

Tauchman played for the Giants in 2021 and is known in San Francisco for a lone catch when he vaulted the left field wall at Dodger Stadium in the ninth inning of a tie game with two outs, robbing Albert Pujols of what appeared to be the world coming together Walk-off home run.

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