Pitch long and prosper: Kyle Hendricks impresses again in Cubs’ win

After Jon Lester’s complete game on Wednesday night, Cubs manager Joe Maddon mentioned how he believed those types of outings have a sort of energizing effect for starters the next time out. Four days earlier, his fifth starter, Kyle Hendricks, had tossed a complete game as well, and Maddon made sure to cite him as proof of his theory.

In Thursday’s 7-2 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers, Hendricks tossed eight innings, allowing just two runs on three hits (one solo home run), six strikeouts and just one walk.

“He knows he can do it now,” Maddon said. “And that really matters. For the most part this year we were going five, six-plus with him, maybe a seven. But the other day was the perfect…