Mets Beat Cubs 3-2 due to another terrific outing from Taijuan Walker and clutch defense

Mets catcher James McCann (Photo Credits to Andy Marlin-USA Today Sports) The New York Mets beat the Chicago Cubs 3-2 tonight at Citi Field for their second consecutive win and improved their record to 34-25. The offense was held scoreless for the first two innings against RHP Alec Mills, but woke up in the bottom of the third inning after SS Francisco Lindor walked with one out, two batters later LF Dom Smith doubled and then 1B Pete Alonso came up hit a two-run single to bring to score Lindor and Smith. In the bottom of the sixth, 3B Jonathan Villar and Lindor singled and then Smith walked to load the bases. Alonso then came up and drove in his third run of the night with a RBI single. RHP Tijuan Walker had another outstanding start allowing two runs on five hits in seven innings. He didn't give up any walks and had 12 strikeouts. 11 out of his 12 strikeouts came on his four-seam and two-seam fastballs. Six of his strikeouts came on two-seam fastballs inside to left handed hitters. He was working the corners and both sides of the plate and attacked the zone. The only runs Walker allowed were on a two-run homer by SS Javier Baez in the top of the fourth. He picked up his sixth win and his ERA is now at 2.12, which is seventh in the National League. RHP Seth Lugo followed and cruised in the top of the eighth with a 1-2-3 inning and two strikeouts on 10 pitches. Lugo came back out for the top of the ninth and got 1B Anthony Rizzo to ground-out to lead off the inning, but then ran into some trouble after he gave up back-to-back singles to catcher Wilson Contreras and pinch-hitter Eric Sogard. Lugo was helped out by his defense after Sogard singled into the right- center field gap and it was fielded by CF Kevin Pillar who fired a quick relay throw to 2B Luis Guillorme and then Guillorme threw a strike to catcher James McCann who tagged out pinch-runner Jake Marisnick for the second out. RF Jason Heyward followed with a walk, but Lugo struck out 2B Sandy Alcantara to end the game and pick up his first save of the year and he ended up with a total of 37 pitches. The Mets next game is tomorrow night against the Cubs at 7:10 p.m.