After a rainout series opener on Monday, the New York Mets and Chicago Cubs got their four-game series underway on Tuesday. It was right-handed pitcher Edward Cabrera (4-4, 5.10 ERA, 65 SO) on the mound for Chicago against the right-hander Kodai Senga (0-5, 10.08 ERA, 34 SO) on the hill for the Mets.
Senga had a less-than-impressive outing yet again as his 2026 nightmare season continues. Senga lasted through just 2 2/3 innings, giving up seven earned runs on three hits, including two big home runs that were the nails in the coffin. He walked five and struck out six as the Cubs went on to defeat the Mets 9-6.
Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
After Senga cruised through the first against the Cubs, he struggled in the second, giving up five runs to the Cubs in the inning, allowing them to take a 5-0 lead early. The big blow came off the bat of former Mets’ prospect, Pete Crow-Armstrong who hit a three-run home run that capped off the five-run inning.
The Mets proceeded to respond and cut the Cubs’ lead to three in the bottom half of the inning. Marcus Semien walked with two outs, and then a single by Brett Baty and a walk to MJ Melendez loaded the bases for Francisco Alvarez, who hit a two-RBI single to center to make it a 5-2 game.
Senga’s rough night continued in the fourth, though, as the Cubs struck for two more runs. Senga gave up his fourth walk of the night to Carson Kelly before giving up a big two-run home run to Swanson to make it a 7-2 Cubs lead and gave Swanson three RBIs on the night.
Right-handed pitcher Cionel Perez came in to relieve Senga in the third and got the Mets through the next 2 1/3 without allowing a run.
Alvarez got another run back for New York in the bottom of the seventh. He hit a solo shot to deep center field to drive in his third RBI and second run scored of the day to make it a 7-3 game.
But after Alvarez got a run back in the seventh, the Cubs immediately answered back and then some, scoring two more runs off of Tobias Myers, who relieved Perez, in the seventh.
The Mets’ offense showed signs of life and battled in the bottom of the ninth.
With Baty on second after walking, Carson Benge hit a line drive RBI single to right field that scored Baty to make it a 9-4 game. That was Benge’s first hit of the game. He was immediately followed by Bichette who hit a two-run home run to make it 9-6 and bring the Mets within three.
But the comeback attempt was too little too late as they dropped the series opener to the Cubs, and their third straight loss.
Player of the Game
The Metsmerized Player of the Game for Tuesday was Alvarez for his RBI single and two-run home run that represented three of the Mets’ six RBIs.
On Deck
Following Monday’s rainout, the Mets and Cubs will continue their series with a day/night doubleheader on Wednesday. Game one is at ,1:10 PM and game two follows at 7:10 PM.
