Chicago Cubs Score and Recap (5/2/24): Mets 7, Cubs 6 F/11 – Lindor Doubles Up on Cubs in Loss

The Cubs and Mets played another close game on Thursday afternoon at Citi Field, and this time nine innings weren’t enough to decide things. The offenses were a lot more involved than they were on Wednesday night, but New York was able to prevail in the 11th to split the series.

Ben Brown got the start for Chicago and did a very nice job in his first four frames, keeping the home team off the scoreboard. Pete Crow-Armstrong got his team on the board with an RBI ground out against Adrian Houser in the 2nd. Christopher Morel landed the big blow against Houser with a three-run homer to left that put the road team ahead 4-0 in the 5th.

Exit Velocity: 103.6 mph
Distance: 390 ft
Launch Angle: 40 deg

Cubs: Up 4-0 💥 pic.twitter.com/KVGvW8xJCe

— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) May 2, 2024

The Mets finally got to Brown in the bottom of the frame with back-to-back run-scoring singles from Brandon Nimmo and Starling Marte which cut the deficit in half. Keegan Thompson took over on the hill and struck out Pete Alonso to preserve the Cubs’ 4-2 advantage.

Crow-Armstrong got one of those tallies back with an RBI double in the top of the 6th. Thompson proceeded to run into big trouble in the bottom of the inning when pinch-hitter Francisco Lindor cracked a two-run double of his own into the right-field corner to make it a one-run game.

Craig Counsell opted for lefty Richard Lovelady to face the left-handed hitting Nimmo but the Mets centerfielder picked up another two-base hit to even the game at five. Both bullpens were able to keep things tied into extra innings and neither team scored in the 10th inning.

Nick Madrigal doubled home the courtesy runner off lefty Danny Young to begin the 11th. Mike Tauchman then ripped a two-out single to right field but Marte fired a strike to the plate to nail Madrigal and keep the score at 6-5.

Daniel Palencia began his second inning of work after a clean 10th inning by hitting Harrison Bader with a pitch. Lindor followed with his second double of the game, this time to left field, which brought home the courtesy runner and Bader to secure a 7-6 Mets win. (Box score)

Key Moment

Marte not only threw out Madrigal trying to score in the 11th he also threw out Morel trying to tag from third on a Patrick Wisdom fly out in the 10th inning. It’s not very often a play at the plate helps to decide two games in a row but that was the case in this series.

Why the Cubs Lost

The middle relievers are struggling and were not able to hold a substantial lead. It didn’t help that the Brown tired in his final inning, although, that is understandable with this being a spot start due to injury.

Stats That Matter

• Brown did a decent job and gave his team a chance to win. He had an issue with walks which was partially due to a very poor umpiring job: 4.2 IP, 2 R, 3 H, 5 K, and 5 BB.
• Michael Busch had a pair of hard hits including a double.
• PCA also had an infield single and stole a base demonstrating the kind of impact he can have on a game.
• Héctor Neris was the sharpest he has been all season long in a 1-2-3 9th inning.

Bottom Line

After winning a game they probably should have lost on Wednesday, the Cubs lost a game they probably should have won on Thursday. Going 3-4 on a road trip is not great but it’s also not terrible. Chicago is missing arguably their three best players, at least that’s what most people would have said going into 2024. So basically treading water during a tough East Coast swing is just fine. Now hopefully a return to Wrigley Field will spark some better play.

On Deck

The Cubs are back home to battle the first-place Brewers on Friday afternoon at 1:20pm CT. Hayden Wesneski gets another start against Joe Ross in a matchup available on MLB Network (out of market only), Marquee, and 670 The Score.