Cubs 11, Mets 1
Ryan Dempster threw seven innings of one-run ball and the Chicago Cubs roughed up New York Mets pitchers and took advantage of some sloppy defense in an 11-1 win Tuesday in the opener of a three-game series at Wrigley Field.
Dempster (3-4) allowed seven hits with five strikeouts and one walk to earn his second win in three starts.
The Cubs staked Dempster to a 5-0 lead with a five-run second inning against Jon Niese, and they put it away with four runs in the seventh.
The Cubs racked up 13 hits and made the most of three Mets errors. Starlin Castro led the way, going 3-for-5 with two RBIs to raise his average to .330. Darwin Barney was 2-for-5 with two RBIs and Carlos Zambrano got in on the action with a two-run, pinch-hit single in the seventh.
Niese (3-5) allowed six runs – two earned – on seven hits in five innings. He struck out five and walked one.
The Cubs have won seven of the past nine meetings at Wrigley Field.