Cabrera's 2 homers highlight Mets' rout of Cubs
NEW YORK -- Asdrubal Cabrera's first two-homer game in more than three years highlighted an unexpected offensive outburst Friday night by the New York Mets, who routed the Chicago Cubs 10-2 in a game delayed three times by rain.
The second game of a four-game series between last season's National League Championship Series combatants was delayed 11 minutes at the start. Rains returned twice more and resulted in a 68-minute delay after the second and a 40-minute delay in the top of the sixth.
The Mets (42-37) have won the series' first two games by a combined 14-5 margin over the Cubs (51-28). New York scored just 13 runs in its six games prior to Thursday.
Cabrera hit a solo homer in the second and a two-run shot in the fifth. It was the fourth two-homer game of his career and his first since May 6, 2013.
James Loney homered in the second, rookie Brandon Nimmo hit a three-run shot in the fourth and Yoenis Cespedes went deep leading off the second for the Mets.
Loney hit a two-run double in the third and finished 3-for-4. Needing to hit a triple for the cycle, Loney grounded out to first in his each of his final two at-bats.
Right-hander Jacob deGrom earned the win -- his first since Apr. 30 -- after allowing one run on three hits and one while striking out seven over five innings. DeGrom, who went 0-4 in his previous 10 starts despite a 3.13 ERA, allowed the final two hits to consecutive batters leading off the sixth.
Kris Bryant homered in the fourth while Addison Russell delivered a sacrifice fly in the seventh for the Cubs.
Jason Hammel absorbed the loss after allowing a career-high 10 runs on nine hits and two walks while striking out three over four innings. His ERA soared from 2.58 to 3.45.
The Mets took a 2-0 lead shortly before the rains arrived on back-to-back homers by Loney and Cabrera in the second.
A 68-minute rain delay following the second inning didn't cool off the Mets. Loney laced a two-run double in the third, and Nimmo crushed a three-run homer -- his first big league round-tripper -- in the fourth to extend the lead to 7-0.
Hammel was finally chased in the fifth, when he gave up a leadoff homer to Cespedes, a single to Loney and a two-run homer to Cabrera. The 10 runs allowed exceeded Hammel's previous career high of eight, set three times.
NOTES: Heavy late-afternoon rains delayed the first pitch by 11 minutes. ... Mets 3B David Wright, who underwent neck surgery June 16, spoke before the game and acknowledged he is likely out for the year. Wright, looking several pounds lighter and sporting a beard because he cannot shave until the surgical bandage is taken off the front of his neck, said he is still experiencing limited mobility and can't watch the game in the dugout because he can't make or absorb any sudden movements. ... Mets OF Juan Lagares (left thumb) was scheduled to play in his fourth rehab game for Double-A Binghamton on Friday and is scheduled to be activated Sunday. ... Cubs manager Joe Maddon said CF Dexter Fowler (right hamstring) isn't expected to come off the disabled list when eligible Monday. ... Cubs RF Jason Heyward, who didn't start Thursday because of a sore left side, returned to the lineup.