Mets Lose To Cubs 3-2 And Struggle With RISP

Mets SS Francisco Lindor getting tagged out at home (Photo Credit to Getty Images)

The New York Mets lost to the Chicago Cubs 3-2 this afternoon at Wrigley Field and took three out of four games in the series and dropped their record to 58-35.

LHP David Peterson cruised through the first three innings, but ran into the bottom of the fourth after he gave up a lead-off infield hit to DH Ian Happ and two batters later, a single to SS Nico Hoerner.

Peterson then was induce a ground-ball by the following hitter 1B Frank Schwindel, but 3B Eduardo Escobar was unable to field the ball cleanly which allowed Schwindel to reach first which loaded the bases.

Peterson walked the next hitter 3B Patrick Wisdom to tie the game, but then came back to strike out 2B David Bote and RF Nelson Velaquez to keep the game tied.

Peterson had a scoreless bottom of the fifth and was taken out after the inning. 

His final line was five innings, three hits, one run (zero earned), three walks and eight strikeouts.

RHP Tommy Hunter followed with two scoreless innings in the bottom of the sixth and seventh innings.

RHP Drew Smith came in next in the bottom of the eighth and got into immediate trouble after he gave up singles to CF Christopher Morel and catcher Wilson Contreras to start the inning.

Smith then gave up a RBI ground-out to Happ to tie the game and two batters a go-ahead single to Hoerner.

The offense got off to a quick start in the top of the first after RF Starling Marte and SS Francisco Lindor singled with one out and later in the inning, Lindor was almost picked off at second base, but was able to get himself out of a rundown which allowed Marte to score.

After scoreless innings in the top of the second, third, and fourth, in the top of the fifth CF Brandon Nimmo walked and SS Francisco Lindor singled with one out and two batter later, 1B Pete Alonso hit a RBI single for his 78th RBI of the season.

In the top of the eighth, Lindor led off with an infield single and three batters later, Escobar singled, but Lindor was thrown out at home.

The bats struggled all game with men on base and could not get a timely hit with runners in scoring position. 

They went 2-8 with runners in scoring position and left seven runners on base.

The Mets are off for the next four games due to the All-Star break except for 1B Pete Alonso, 2B Jeff McNeil, closer Edwin and RF Startling Marte who will all be going to the All-Star game on Tuesday, July 19th at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, CA.

They return to action on Friday July 22 back at home against the San Diego Padres at 7:10 p.m.