The Mets rallied for a thrilling 7-6 walk-off win over the Chicago Cubs in the series finale of a four-game set on Thursday afternoon at Citi Field.
Here are some takeaways…
– Francisco Lindor was sidelined again with flu-like symptoms, so Joey Wendle received the start at short, and the veteran’s defensive struggles continued. With runners on first and second and just one out, Nick Madrigal hit a slow roller up the middle that Wendle decided not to charge, and Patrick Wisdom just beat the throw to second to load the bases. A batter later, Pete Crow-Armstrong rolled a grounder to second which should’ve ended the inning, but instead it brought home the first run of the afternoon.
– Adrian Houser did well to limit the damage early on in this one, but things finally caved in on him in the fifth inning, as Christopher Morel‘s two-out three-run homer created some separation for Chicago. The righty finished with four runs allowed on four hits while walking four and striking out just two across five innings of work. He’s now allowed at least four runs in four on his six starts this season and he’s pitched to a brutal 8.16 ERA and 1.80 WHIP.
– After being held hitless over the first four innings, it was looking like the same game Mets fans have seen over the past few days. Finally in the fifth, though, they were able to break through against young Cubs right-hander Ben Brown, who reached a new career-high in pitches. With two on and two out, back-to-back run scoring hits from Brandon Nimmo and Starling Marte got New York on the board.
– An inning later, New York continued to show some fight, as Lindor came off the bench for just the seventh pinch-hit appearance of his career and he came through with a massive two-run double as a left-handed hitter. Two batters later, Nimmo drive him home with his second RBI hit in as many innings to even things up and complete the comeback.
– Pitching in a brand new ballgame, the Mets’ bullpen did well to keep things evened up, as Jake Diekman and Reed Garrett combined to throw a pair of scoreless inning. Garrett came out to start the top of the ninth but after he issued a leadoff walk Carlos Mendoza decided to turn to Edwin Diaz. The star closer advanced the go-ahead run into scoring position on a wild pitch, but a groundout sandwiched between two strikeouts helped him strand the runner there.
The Mets went down quietly in the ninth, so Diaz returned for a second inning of work for just the first time this season, and he was helped by a tremendous pitch-and-catch from Marte to Omar Narvaez to gun down Morel trying to score on a fly ball to shallow right-center. After the Mets failed to score in the 10th, the Cubs struck for one run against Danny Young early in the 11th, but Marte and Narvaez teamed up again to gun down the speedy Madrigal trying to score on a single to shallow right.
– After Harrison Bader was hit by a pitch leading off the bottom half of the inning, it was Lindor who played hero again, slicing a walk-off two-run double down the third base line to help the Mets split the series with Chicago.
– Brett Baty had another quiet day at the plate but he continued his tremendous defensive campaign with a pair of slick plays at the hot corner. He got the afternoon started by robbing the speedy Nico Horner of an infield single with a nifty barehanded play. A few innings later he laid out and made a tremendous diving stop to start an inning-ending double play, helping Houser escape out of one out jam of his own making.
– Despite the win, the Mets’ early-season struggles with holding runners on continued, as they allowed five more stolen bases in this one, increasing the season total to 41-in-42 attempts.
MVP of the Game: Francisco Lindor
Despite not receiving the start, Lindor served as the difference-maker in this one, driving in four of New York’s seven runs off the bench including the game-winning hit.
The star shortstop has struggled mightily at the plate this season, but perhaps this is the type of effort that could get him going.
Highlights
Upcoming schedule
The Mets head out on a six-game roadtrip starting at Tropicana Field as they take on the Tampa Bay Rays on Friday at 6:50 p.m.
Jose Quintana will look to build off his stellar eight-inning performance against right-hander Aaron Civale (2-2, 5.06 ERA).
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