Chicago Cubs finally get one against Mets
Chicago Cubs vs. New York Mets used to be a thing, back in the day, when both were part of the National League East.
The rivalry died down some when the Mets stayed in the East and the Cubs moved to the Central.
But last year's National League championship series — won by the Mets over the Cubs in a four-game sweep — put the Big Apple-Second City rivalry back into the forefront.
The Mets came to town Monday night having swept the Cubs in four more recently at Citi Field in New York.
The Cubs righted things for themselves, at least for Monday night, with a 5-1 victory at Wrigley Field.
Jon Lester worked 7⅔ innings of 4-hit, 1-run ball, and Anthony Rizzo staked Lester to a 3-0 lead with a 3-run homer to right-center in the third inning. It was Rizzo's 22nd homer of the season.
Whether the Cubs were “up” or needed to be “up” for this series is a matter of debate.
Manager Joe Maddon isn't one to go that route, saying no one game is any more important than another. But Lester said he liked the way the Cubs played in this one.
“I think that's the biggest thing; we didn't play very well in New York,” said Lester, who is 10-4 with a 2.89 ERA. “We came out tonight and played clean baseball. We had really good quality at-bats … That's really big for us, especially when young guys start doing that.
“Like I said, tonight we played really, really good defense on the left said, all over. I think that's the key for us, just getting back to clean baseball with these guys.”
Rizzo put a textbook at-bat together against Mets lefty Steven Matz, fouling off pitch after pitch in the third inning before rocketing a ball into the bleachers in right-center for his 22nd homer of the season. The home run came on the 10th pitch of the at-bat.
As far as the Cubs' offense goes, Maddon called Rizzo “the anchor of the whole thing.”
“Matz has good stuff; he's tough on lefties,” Rizzo said. “Just battle there. Fight, fight some tough pitches off. I put a good swing on one he left over the plate.”
Like Lester, Rizzo said it was good to beat the Mets after what happened last fall and just a few games ago.
“Yeah, we just got done with Texas,” Rizzo said of the Cubs beating the Rangers two of three over the weekend. “They're a good team. The Mets are a good team. To take the first game of the series, we've got Jake (staff ace Arrieta) going tomorrow. See what happens.”
Maddon could not stop talking about Rizzo's homer.
“Don't underestimate what a great at-bat by Rizzo,” said Maddon, whose team is 56-36. “That's is a fabulous at-bat. That's what you're looking for. Not everybody will hit a home run, but to really grind out an at-bat, foul pitches off with two strikes, get to the next pitch, get to the next pitch.”