Game 51 of 162
Mets 10 – Cubs 1 (Wrigley Field, Chicago)
Mets record: 26-25
Mets streak: Won 1
WP – Carlos Carrasco (1-2)
LP – Kyle Hendricks (0-1)
Seat on the Korner
We select the star of the game and virtually invite him to a Seat on the Korner, just as Ralph Kiner used to do for his studio postgame show on WOR-channel 9 broadcasts in the early decades of the Mets.
Carrasco pitched a season-high 6.2 innings and earned his first win of the season. He allowed one run and five hits, including a solo home run to Dansby Swanson in the 1st inning, struck out four and walked two. The right-hander pitched more than five innings for the first time in seven starts dating to last season, and retired 10 in a row at one point.
Need to Know
*The Mets salvaged the finale of this three game series. They scored 10+ runs for the third time this season.
*New York had 15 hits. Cubs backup catcher Tucker Barnhardt pitched the 9th inning and allowed two hits but no runs.
*Pete Alonso hit his MLB-leading 19th home run, a two-run shot in the 7th inning, and now leads the National League with 45 RBI. Alonso was 2-for-2 with a single, homer, two walks, hit by pitch, two runs scored and two RBI.
*Jeff McNeil was 3-for-4 with a walk and three runs scored.
*Brandon Nimmo stroked a two-run triple to right center in the 8th inning. It was his second triple this season.
*Cubs right-hander Kyle Hendricks made his first start since last July and allowed 5 runs (3 earned), 6 hits and 2 walks in 4.1 innings.
*Tomas Nido was activated off the IL and caught in the 9th inning. Gary Sanchez was designated for assignment.
Turning Point
The Mets led 4-1 after scoring three runs in the top of the 3rd inning but the Cubs loaded the bases in the bottom half of the frame with two singles and a walk. Carrasco has struggled mightily this season and faced a moment of truth Thursday. With two outs, he got Mike Tauchman to ground out to McNeil to end the inning. Carrasco and the Mets rolled from there.
3 Keys
Buoyed by rule changes, the Mets have been very aggressive on the bases this season, and that continued Thursday. Starling Marte stole his team-leading 14th base (in 17 attempts) and McNeil stole third on the front end of a double steal and scored when Cubs catcher Yan Gomes threw the ball into left field in the 5th inning.
The kids continue to be alright. Brett Baty drove in two runs -- a SAC Fly in the 1st inning and an RBI single in the third. He was 1- for-4 and made a couple solid defensive plays at third base. Francisco Alvarez was again solid behind the plate and 2-for-5 with a single and double.
Tied 1-1 and with two outs none on in the 3rd inning, the Mets staged a rally to take a lead they would not relinquish against Hendricks. McNeil and Alonso singled to get things going. Baty singled to right to drive in a run; Alonso went first to third and Baty took second on the throw. Marte then delivered a clutch two-run single to right to give the Mets a 4-1 lead.
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