National League Championship Series
New York Mets at Chicago Cubs
The Wright Way to Start
The Cubs have yet to get out of a first inning without giving up an early lead, and tonight was no different. Kyle Hendricks was the first pitcher to hit the mound for the Cubs at Wrigley, and it looked like he was going to be the first pitcher to get out of the 1st without allowing a run. That is until Yoenis Cespedes had an RBI double to center, scoring David Wright. Wright had been in scoring position, thanks in part to an error by shortstop Javier Baez (in for Addison Russell) that allowed him to reach first.
Every game, the theme for the Cubs has been get to the Mets bullpen early. Once again, the Cubs were unable to do that. deGrom at times looked beatable, but unfortunately while the temperature in Chicago warmed, the Cubs bats got ice cold. An extremely bad omen for the Cubs, who thrive on their stellar offense.
The Cubs were able to break through early, with a Kyle Schwarber blast in the first, but they were unable to muster more than base hits before Jorge Soler grounded out to end the first. Still, the Cubs were hopeful. However, this was the wrong pitcher to face if you are looking to capitalize on the long ball. deGrom gave up only 16 home runs in the regular season, and started the game with 20 strike outs so far in this post season. (mlb.com) For all the hope the Cubs had of breaking through, the Mets had even more confidence in their starter tonight.
The second was uneventful for both sides with Travis d’Arnaud threatening, but a 6-4-3 double play ended the inning with the catcher stranded. And the Cubs went down with a 1-2-3 inning.
Call the Park Ranger Because Murphy is a Cub Killer
The top of the third started off great for Hendricks with his second and third strike outs, but the train went of the rails when Daniel Murphy tee’d up yet another Cubs pitcher for a home run. His fifth in consecutive play off games, tying Carlos Beltran‘s record set in 2004. (mlb.com)
The Cubs got out of the inning with only the one run, but were unable to help themselves in the bottom of the 3rd, in spite of an early walk. The score was 2-1, and Murphy is murdering the Cubs.
In the bottom of the 4th, Jorge Soler took advantage of a good pitch, and sent a ball long for a solo shot. However, the Cubs were not able to really break through, and capitalize on that. They followed that up with two outs from Miguel Montero and Chris Coghlan, in for Kyle Hendricks. Hendricks’ night ended after 4 innings, 5 hits, 2 earned runs, a walk, 4 strike outs, and a home run.
Clayton Richard got the call from Joe Maddon to start the 5th, and he managed to get out of the inning after a walk and a base hit on a 6-4-3 double play. That was the extent of his work tonight as the Cubs put the pitching carousel on full tilt. A solid 1-2-3 inning for the Mets made sure that deGrom would not be retiring as early.
Cuban Missle Crisis Invades the Friendly Confines
The media referred to Yoenis Cespedes as the Cuban Missle Crisis several times through out the night, and he must have heard them. He scored on a wild pitch by Trevor Cahill in the top of the 6th, a play that would set the momentum in favor of the Mets, which never waivered from that point on.
In spite of a bobble that was ruled a ground rule double in the ivy, they did not score again, but it did not matter. The Mets retired the Cubs quickly in the sixth, and launched a full scale attack in the 7th, unofficially ending any rally the Cubs might have been planning.
Travis Wood was the next victim for the Mets, who saw only 3 batters, and accounted for one out. Then, Justin Grimm came in to finish the inning, but Cespedes sent a ball far into left that rolled down Kyle Schwarber‘s arm, allowing Wright to score. Then Murphy, again. For those keeping score at home, that’s two a piece for Wright and Murphy. In fact, tonight the Mets scored as many as the Cubs have scored, in the entire series.
The Mets had the Cubs on the ropes, and deGrom was still pitching in the 7th. For the record, he was merciless as he knocked them down for a 1-2-3 inning before he took a seat for the night. He finished with 7 innings pitched, 4 hits, 2 earned runs, a walk, 7 strike outs, and 2 home runs. It did not really matter who came in for the Mets after that, because Murphy, Wright and Cespedes had officially slashed holes in the sails for the Cubs, before deGrom even threw his last pitch.
Who’s Got Next
For the Cubs, Jason Hammel has the daunting task of coming in to rescue the Cubs, with what will have to be a career game. However, pitching a great game will mean absolutely nothing if Kris Bryant, Anthony Rizzo and Starlin Castro do not bring the offense. While the pitchers have not been great for the Cubs, they have not been as awful as the score sheet makes it appear. Good pitching is tantamount to winning, but a near perfect game will mean little without some run support, and that is assuming Hammel can deliver.
For the Mets, they have their collective foot on the throats of the Cubs, and without a miraculous performance from several Cubs players, they will go in for the kill tomorrow night. They are in a position where they can sit back and idle, as Steven Matz takes the mound. He is young, but he is easily the better pitcher on the night, with the Mets depth flexing its muscles once again. The only question mark is a late season back injury, but it is doubtful he would start with the Cubs on the ropes, if the Mets were concerned at all. Making the Cubs challenge all that much harder.
Only one team has come back from an 0-3 deficit in an NLCS/ALCS. The one plus for the Cubs, is that Theo Epstein has first hand knowledge that it can be done, because it was his 2004 Boston Red Sox. They ultimately went on to win the World Series, effectively breaking their own well documented ‘curse’. The Cubs will need to be firing on all cylinders tomorrow in order to extend their season, and they will need to do it right out of the gates. A second’s hesitation, and this Mets club will run with it. Literally.
Player of the Game: Yoenis Cespedes
This could have easily gone to several players, including Daniel Murphy. Again. However, Yoenis Cespedes was a catalyst for two scoring plays, and just seemed to be everywhere the Mets needed him to be on this night. In game 3, Cespedes had two RBI’s, a run of his own, and three hits.
Game 4 (Mets lead 3-0)
For the Mets, this is a one and done game. They have Steven Matz on the mound vs. Jason Hammel, giving the Mets the clear edge. If the Cubs hope to survive, they will have to get a nearly perfect game out of Hammel, and their power hitters will have to come alive. All of them. This is a hole that Theo Epstein has seen before, and the young Cubs are capable of lighting a match on their offense when backed against the wall, but everything will have to be going in their favor. The Cubs will have to get to Matz early, and above all else Hammel will have to find a way to keep Daniel Murphy contained from the start. If it seems like an awful lot for this young team to overcome, that is because it is. The Cubs youth and naivete can only take them so far, but Theo Epstein and Joe Maddon are hoping they can get a little more mileage off of it, before these kids figure that out.