Schierholtz, Cubs Beat Mets 2-1 In 9th Inning
CHICAGO (AP) — Nate Schierholtz hit a two-out game-ending RBI single, after Chris Coghlan homered to tie it in the eighth, and the Chicago Cubs beat the New York Mets 2-1 on Tuesday night.
Curtis Granderson had three hits for the Mets and drove in their run with a sacrifice fly in the first inning. The Mets failed to win a season-high four straight games.
Cubs reliever Hector Rondon (1-1) pitched a scoreless ninth.
Anthony Rizzo led off the bottom of the ninth with a single off Mets reliever Scott Rice (1-2). After New York third baseman David Wright was unable to turn a hard-hit grounder into a double play, Schierholtz pulled a liner into the right-field corner against the left-handed Rice to win it.
Mets starter Zack Wheeler pitched 6 2-3 scoreless innings and was in line for the victory until Josh Edgin gave up a leadoff home run to Coghlan to tie the game and snap a 15 inning scoreless streak for Chicago. It was the left-hand hitting Coghlan's first homer against a lefty pitcher since 2010.
After only giving up one run in 6 1-3 innings to the Phillies on Thursday, Wheeler gave the Mets another strong outing. He had little trouble going against an overmatched Chicago offense. He allowed two hits, while striking out seven and only allowing two walks. The 24-year old right-hander did not allow a runner past first base.
The struggles continued for Rizzo against Wheeler, who was ejected after striking out in his first at-bat on Sunday. He struck out three times against Wheeler and dropped a routine pop up in the eighth.
Matt den Dekker led off the game with a single. He stole second and advanced to third on a wild pitch then scored on Granderson's sacrifice fly.
The Mets had the bases loaded in the third with no outs, but failed to score. Chris Young hit a sharp grounder to Rizzo. Rizzo threw home to get the force. Lucas Duda popped out to Starlin Castro at shortstop and Wilmer Flores lined out to starter Jake Arrieta.
Arrieta allowed one run on seven hits in 4 2-3 innings. He struck out two and walked three.
Arrieta's night ended early with a high pitch count. Cubs manager Rick Renteria was forced to pull the 28-year old right-hander after he walked Duda with two outs in the fifth on his 105th pitch.
NOTES: Mets RHP Daisuke Matsuzaka is scheduled to make his second start of the season on Wednesday. Left-handed batters are hitting just .093 (4-for-43) against Matsuzaka. ... Cubs top minor prospect Javier Baez is hitting .219 with seven home runs and 25 RBIs for Triple-A Iowa. He is in a 1-for-12 slump. ... Cubs 3B prospect Kris Bryant is batting .351 with 18 home runs and 49 RBIs for Double-A Tennessee. ...Cubs placed C Welington Castillo on the 15-day disabled list because of a rib injury and designated relief pitcher Jose Veras for assignment.
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