Mets Sweep Doubleheader Against Cubs With 4-3 Win In Extras

Mets 3B Eduardo Escobar (Photo Credits to David Banks-USA Today Sports)

 The New York Mets beat the Chicago Cubs 4-3 tonight at Wrigley Field in the second game of a doubleheader for their fourth consecutive win and improved their record to 58-34.

The offense was held scoreless for the two innings against LHP Drew Smly, but in the top of the third, CF Brandon Nimmo led off with a single and RF Starling Marte reached on an error after CF Rafael Ortega dropped a routine fly ball which allowed Nimmo to advance to third.

SS Francisco Lindor followed with a RBI ground-out to score Nimmo,

In the top of the fourth, 3B Eduardo Escobar hit a solo homer.

The bats did not much for the next five innings until the top of the tenth with Nimmo on second to start the inning as the "ghost runner". 

Marte led off by reaching on an infield single and then stole second.

Lindor followed with an intentional walk to load the bases and then 1B Pete Alonso was hit by a pitch which brought in a run.

LF Mark Canha then grounded into a double play and then pinch-hitter Luis Guillorme walked to load the bases.

Lindor then scored a much needed insurance run after RHP Daniel Norris made a poor throw to second base on a pick-off attempt to try to throw out Alonso.

RHP Max Scherzer had an excellent outing, despite not having his best stuff. 

Scherzer battled through it with a tight slider and change-up with his fastball.

His final line was 6.1 innings, eight hits, two runs, one walk and as season-high 11 strikeouts.

RHP Colin Holderman followed with 1.2 scoreless innings.

RHP Yoan Lopez came in next and threw a scoreless bottom of the ninth.

Lopez stayed in for the bottom of the tenth and gave up a RBI single to CF Christopher Morel and then gave up a single to RF Seiya Suzuki and walked SS Nico Hoerner to load the bases.

Lopez was able to settle down and get DH Frank Schwindel to ground into a beautiful 5-5-3 double play started by Escobar to close out the victory.

Lopez picked up his first win of the season.

The Mets next game is tomorrow afternoon, Sunday July 17th at the Cubs at 2:20 p.m for their final game before the All-Star break.