Kyle Hendricks exits NLDS Game 2 after being hit by line drive

Cubs starting pitcher Kyle Hendricks checks on his arm after getting hit by a ball in the fourth inning of NLDS Game 2.

As history has dictated, every time the Chicago Cubs get on a path to achieving something special, an unforeseen road block pops up to impede their process. The latest road block may have come in the form of an injury to Kyle Hendricks, who was forced to leave his NLDS Game 2 start after taking an Angel Pagan line drive off his pitching forearm.

Hendricks did not appear to take a direct hit, but a direct hit is not required to cause damage when the baseball is traveling 94 MPH. Pagan smoked it, and while Hendricks did his best to knock it down, he didn’t have enough time or room. The baseball ended up clipping his arm before drilling him in the belt buckle, which probably didn’t feel any better.

Hendricks attempted to stay in the game, even taking a few warm up tosses. That was quickly halted when the forearm began to tighten up, according to reports. Even if it’s not serious now — x-rays during the game were negative — both Hendricks and manager Joe Maddon saw no reason to force the issue. Hendricks pitched 3 1/3 innings, allowing two runs.

Oddly enough, the biggest hit in the game to that point came off Hendricks’ bat. His two-run single in the second extended the Cubs lead to 3-0. They currently lead 5-2 in the fifth after his replacement, Travis Wood, launched a home run that was reminiscent of another Wood named Kerry.

Travis Wood's home run traveled 393 feet to left-center field. Kerry Wood's home run in the 2003 NLS also went 393 feet to left-center.

— Chris Emma (@CEmma670) October 9, 2016

Perhaps this is a better sign for the Cubs, as it continues this season’s theme of being relentless and overcoming hurdles. Regardless, the pitching duo combined to do something that hasn’t been done in 24 years in the postseason.

#Cubs Travis Wood & Kyle Hendricks are the first teammates to pitch and have an RBI in the same #postseason game since October 7, 1992.

— Ryan M. Spaeder (@theaceofspaeder) October 9, 2016

While Wood did something that hasn’t been done since 1924.

#Cubs Travis Wood is the first relief pitcher to homer in a #postseason game since Rosy Ryan on October 6, 1924.

— Ryan M. Spaeder (@theaceofspaeder) October 9, 2016