Caratini Homers Twice Off DeGrom, Cubs Sweep Mets
NEW YORK (AP) Victor Caratini homered twice off Mets ace Jacob deGrom, including a tiebreaking, three-run drive in the seventh inning that powered the Chicago Cubs past New York 4-1 Thursday night for a three-game sweep.
Jon Lester pitched six effective innings as the Cubs increased their lead for the second NL wild-card spot to 2 1/2 games over Philadelphia.
The Mets lost their sixth in a row, all at Citi Field. Full of hope a week ago, they dropped five games behind Chicago.
Caratini lofted a solo homer in the second that made it 1-all. That was the Cubs' only hit until they struck in the seventh.
Kris Bryant hit a one-out single off shortstop Amed Rosario's glove, and Javier Baez grounded a single up the middle. Caratini fell behind 1-2, fouled off two pitches and then pulled a line drive into the second deck in right field.
The crowd of 38,389 fell silent as the Cubs backup catcher rounded the bases with his ninth home run of the season and second career multihomer game. He became the fourth player to connect twice in a game against deGrom, joining Mitch Garver this year, Giancarlo Stanton in 2016 and Mark Teixeira in 2015.
DeGrom (8-8) had sparkled since late May, with a 1.88 ERA in that span. But the NL Cy Young Award winner got little run support, a familiar scenario for the All-Star righty.
DeGrom walked with his head down to the dugout when the inning ended and headed straight for a tunnel to the clubhouse.
J.D. Davis homered for the third straight game in the series and Wilson Ramos doubled, singled and extended his hitting streak to 22 games, the longest in the majors this season.
Lester (11-9) limited the Mets to five hits. After Tyler Chatwood and Brandon Kintzler each threw a scoreless inning, Craig Kimbrel closed for his 13th save in 15 chances.
Caratini got three hits as the Cubs won their seventh in a row at Citi Field since last year, their best winning streak while visiting the Mets since taking seven straight at Shea Stadium in 1991. This was Chicago's fifth consecutive road victory, a nifty achievement for a team that is 28-39 overall away from Wrigley Field.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Cubs: 1B Anthony Rizzo (back tightness) hasn't played since Saturday. Manager Joe Maddon said he didn't expect Rizzo would be ready for the series opener against Milwaukee, adding, "I don't have any kind of specific date" for his return. ... All-Star catcher Willson Contreras (strained right hamstring) is set to begin a minor league rehab assignment. Maddon estimated Contreras could rejoin the team in "a week or so." ... OF Kyle Schwarber didn't start and struck out as a pinch-hitter. LF Tony Kemp started in his place and made three straight nice catches early in the game.
Mets: 2B Robinson Cano (torn left hamstring) hit against a Triple-A pitcher and ran the bases before batting practice.
UP NEXT</strong?
Cubs: A short turnaround for an afternoon start at Wrigley Field, with LHP Jose Quintana (11-8, 4.05 ERA) vs. Milwaukee RHP Chase Anderson (6-3, 4.34). Quintana is 1-2 with a 7.08 ERA in four starts against the Brewers this year. Milwaukee is four games behind Chicago.
Mets: RHP Zack Wheeler (9-7, 4.46) starts at Philadelphia vs. RHP Aaron Nola (12-4, 3.53). Wheeler has given up 14 runs on 21 hits and seven walks in his last three starts, spanning 16 innings.
© 2019 by STATS LLC and Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited.
