Nimmo keys Mets' comeback win over Cubs
NEW YORK -- Rookie right fielder Brandon Nimmo, making his first major league start as a leadoff batter, keyed a three-run rally in the seventh inning Thursday night as the New York Mets came back to edge the Chicago Cubs 4-3 in a rematch of last year's National League Championship Series at Citi Field.
The Mets (41-37) broke a four-game losing streak. The Cubs (51-27) had their three-game winning streak snapped.
The Cubs led 3-1 entering the seventh, when starter John Lackey was lifted after allowing a one-out single to Travis d'Arnaud. Pinch-hitter Alejandro De Aza worked an eight-pitch walk against right-hander Joel Peralta (1-1), after which Nimmo, playing in his fifth big league game, won a nine-pitch battle with a single.
Left-hander Pedro Strop then induced Neil Walker to hit a grounder to drawn-in second baseman Javier Baez, who fired to third to try to get Nimmo as De Aza crossed the plate. But the throw sailed past Kris Bryant and Nimmo sprinted home with the go-ahead run.
The rally made a winner out of right-hander Erik Goeddel (1-0), who threw 1 2/3 perfect innings. Addison Reed and Jerry Blevins combined to work a scoreless eighth before Jeurys Familia notched his major league-leading 27th save by wriggling out of a bases-loaded jam in the ninth
The Cubs led 2-0 just six pitches into the game thanks to Ben Zobrist, who laced a leadoff single, and Bryant, who launched a long two-run homer to left. Baez homered leading off the sixth to extend Chicago's lead to 3-0.
The Mets began crawling back in the sixth, when Yoenis Cespedes crushed a solo homer measured at 466 feet into the third deck in left field.
Mets left-hander Steven Matz allowed three runs on seven hits and three walks while striking out six over 5 1/3 innings.
Lackey allowed two runs on five hits and two walks while striking out five over 6 1/3 innings.
NOTES: A moment of silence was held for ex-Met Jim Hickman, who died Saturday, and the victims of Tuesday's terrorist attack in Istanbul. ... The Mets recalled RHP Seth Lugo from Triple-A Las Vegas and optioned LHP Sean Gilmartin to the same affiliate. Lugo provides the Mets some insurance in case LHP Steven Matz or RHP Noah Syndergaard, each of whom is pitching through bone spurs, exits early during the Cubs series. ... Mets RF Curtis Granderson (calf) was out of the lineup for a second consecutive game. ... Cubs RF Jason Heyward (sore left side) did not start and is day-to-day. ... Cubs INF Tommy La Stella (hamstring) is 4-for-10 with a homer and three RBIs through three rehab games with Triple-A Iowa.