The Chicago Cubs shut out the New York Mets 1-0 in game three of the series at Citi Field, which ended on a controversial play at home plate. Pete Alonso was thrown out at the plate to end the game. The play was reviewed, and the call stood.

“I think they got the call wrong,” Carlos Mendoza said.

Photo by Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Jose Buttó (0-2, 2.57 ERA) took the loss for the Mets and Shōta Imanaga improved to 5-0 with a 0.78 ERA after being credited with the win. Hector Neris (5 saves, 3.27 ERA) was credited with the save for the Cubs.

Buttó threw six very strong innings for the Mets, giving up just one earned run on four hits. He walked two and struck out six, but ultimately took the loss on Wednesday after not receiving much help offensively from the Mets’ bats. He has a 2.86 ERA over his last 12 major league starts.

The Cubs drove in the first run of the game to take the early lead in the fifth. Matt Mervis doubled to right field off of Buttó and advanced on a wild pitch by Buttó during the next at-bat. Mervis was driven in one batter later by the former Mets prospect, Pete Crow-Armstrong on a sacrifice fly to right field that allowed Mervis to tag up and score the Cubs’ first run of the game and take a 1-0 lead over the Mets.

The Mets had two runners in scoring position in the ninth with a chance to tie the game. But trying to tag up on a fly ball by Jeff McNeil, Alonso was tagged out at the plate to end the game.

Mendoza told reporters after the game that teams received a memo this spring detailing what catchers can’t do, and it stated they can’t step on the plate.

Player of the Game

The player of the game for Wednesday night is Buttó. He gave up one earned run on just four hits and walked two. He struck out six over the course of 95 pitches thrown (57 for strikes).

On Deck

The Mets (15-15) and Cubs (19-12) will conclude their series on Thursday at 1:10 p.m. ET at Citi Field. 24-year-old right-handed pitcher Ben Brown (0-1, 4.30 ERA) will take the mound for the Cubs against right-handed pitcher Adrian Houser (0-3, 8.37 ERA) for the Mets.