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On Wednesday, the New York Mets (25-25) faced a familiar opponent as Marcus Stroman (4-4, 2.95) took the mound for the Chicago Cubs (22-26). Even though Francisco Álvarez provided some runs with a key two-run home run, New York managed only four hits against the former Mets right-hander as they fell to Chicago 4-2 and are now back to .500 on the season at 25-25.

The Mets got on the board in the top of the third. After the first seven hitters were retired in order, Mark Canha singled to right, which set Álvarez up to crush a two-run home run to center for his sixth home run of the year and give the Mets a 2-0 lead.

 

While the Mets took the lead first, they gave it right back in the bottom of the inning. Kodai Senga (4-3, 3.94 ERA) walked Nico Hoerner to begin the frame. Two batters later, Dansby Swanson got the Cubs on the board with an RBI double.

Two batters later, Seiya Suzuki evened the score at two with an RBI double of his own. Later in the inning, Mike Tauchman gave the Cubs the lead with an RBI single to left.

Even though Senga only allowed the three runs in the third, he struggled with his command, finishing his evening five walks. Senga’s final line: five innings, three runs, six hits,  six strikeouts, and the aforementioned five walks on 106 pitches (65 strikes) in the loss.

The Cubs would add some insurance in the bottom of the sixth against Drew Smith. With one out in the inning, Hoerner hit a solo shot to left center to extend the lead to 4-2. Smith allowed one run on two hits, walked a batter, and struck out one on 24 pitches (17 strikes).

As for the Mets offense, only two other players had a hit besides Álvarez (2-for-3, HR). Those two players were Pete Alonso (1-for-3) and Canha (1-for-2, R). Stroman was able to force 15 groundball outs and New York only had two at-bats with men in scoring position the entire game. Stroman went eight innings, allowed two runs on four hits, walked two, and struck out three on 88 pitches (59 strikes) in the win.

The Mets’ best chance to get back in the game came in the eighth. After Starling Marte walked and stoles second, Canha followed two batters later with a walk of his own. However, Álvarez grounded into a double play to end the inning and the threat. Stroman was magnificent for the Cubs on evening, going eight innings and allowing only four hits and two runs against his former club.

The Mets bullpen tried to keep them in the game as Brooks Raley threw a 1-2-3 seventh (two strikeouts) and Jeff Brigham threw a 1-2-3 eighth (one strikeout). Even though Senga had the high walk total, the Cubs were still 2-for-11 with men in scoring position.

Mark Leiter Jr. came in for Stroman in the ninth and retired the top of the Mets order 1-2-3 on ten pitches to record the save.

Player Of The Game: Francisco Álvarez

Despite ground into the double play in the eighth, Álvarez was the lone bright spot for the Mets’ offense as he scored the lone two runs and he made some history in the process:

As Álvarez continues to do damage to the baseball, he continues to make a case as to why he should remain in the big leagues or, he’s at least making the decision that much tougher for the front office.

On Deck

The Mets will wrap up their three-game series against the Cubs on Thursday night as they try to avoid being swept. You can catch the game on SNY and MLB Network (out-of-market) at 7:40 PM ET. RHP Carlos Carrasco (0-2, 8.68 ERA) gets the start for the Mets against RHP Jameson Taillon (0-3, 8.10) for the Cubs as both pitchers look to claim their first win of the year.