O's game blog: Cubs rookie Hendricks takes 1.48 ERA into start against O's

The Orioles try to get back in the win column today at Wrigley Field in Game 2 of their series against the Chicago Cubs. A win in one of the next two games will give the Orioles a winning road trip with at least a 5-4 record. A win in the next two games will give the Orioles another series victory, which would be their 10th in the last 11 series. On the mound today, Bud Norris (11-7, 3.69 ERA) faces Cubs right-hander Kyle Hendricks (5-1, 1.48 ERA). Hendricks is having a sensational rookie season since his first start on July 10. He went 10-5 with a 3.59 ERA in 17 starts for the Triple-A Iowa Cubs. He gave up four runs in six innings in his first big league start, but has allowed one earned run or less in his past six starts, pitching to an ERA of 0.84. Hendricks has recorded six straight quality starts and is the first Cubs rookie to do that since Kerry Wood, who in 1998 had two streaks of seven consecutive quality starts. Since allowing three runs in the first inning of his big league debut on July 10 in Cincinnati, he has pitched to a 0.94 ERA. A victory today would make Hendricks the first Cubs rookie to win five straight starts since Geremi Gonzalez did so in 1997, according to STATS. Norris has been pitching well for the Orioles. Over his last 10 starts, the right-hander is 7-2 with an ERA of 2.87 and he's given up two or fewer earned runs in seven of those starts. One stat that has been solid for Norris all year is his .184 opponents' batting average with runners in scoring position. Since 2012, the Orioles' 31-22 record (.585) in interleague play ranks sixth in the majors. The Birds went 11-9 against the National League in 2013. The Orioles are 9-6 in interleague games in 2014, winning season series against Pittsburgh (3-1), Washington (3-1), and St. Louis (2-1), while dropping two of three at Milwaukee. The Orioles will play Cincinnati in September to close out their interleague schedule. The Birds have a 146-172 record in interleague games since its inception in 1997.