Chicago Cubs turn the tables on the Mets in 5-1 win to begin series

It wasn’t that long ago when the New York Mets swept the Chicago Cubs four games to none. Things were different this time around with Chicago playing great baseball since returning from the All-Star break.

Boy, this victory over the New York Mets sure does feel good after they manhandled the Cubs in their previous meeting at Citi Field before the All-Star break. Chicago put together some hits and scored a few runs over the course of that four-game set but the Mets were lights out and relentless.

Tonight, the Cubs (56-36) continued to play fantastic baseball, improving to 3-1 since teams began playing baseball following the All-Star break. In his previous start, Jon Lester was hammered by the Mets.

Lester (10-4, 2.89 ERA) pitched a brilliant game despite giving up a solo home run to infielder Wilmer Flores during the top of the seventh inning, cutting Chicago’s lead down to just three.

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The Mets (49-43) were only able to record four hits off Lester while drawing three walks and as many strikeouts, before skipper, Joe Maddon removed him from the game after 7 2/3 innings of work.

This opened the door for reliever Pedro Strop who ended the frame with a strikeout. Chicago continued to make Steven Matz (7-6, 3.56 ERA) miserable on the mound by tagging him for four earned runs on eight hits in five innings of work.

Javier Baez tallied his second hit of the ballgame on a ball that was sent out to left field and advanced to second when Kris Bryant was hit by a pitch. They would both come around to score on a three-run homer off the bat of first baseman Anthony Rizzo — his 22nd big fly of the year.

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Shortly after Rizzo gave Lester a 3-0 lead, catcher Willson Contreras jumped all over the first pitch of his at-bat for his fifth double of the year. He attempted to score on a Matt Szczur single but was thrown out by left fielder Yoenis Cespedes for the third and final out of the inning.

Speaking of Szczur, he has been great in the batter’s box for the Cubs as of late. Matt has delivered with multiple RBI knocks and ended the night 3-for-4 with a single, double and scored on a double hit by Albert Almora Jr.

Hector Rondon entered the game in the ninth in relief of Carl Edwards Jr. and shut down the Mets for his 16th save.