Credit: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports

In a game that was always going to be decided by one big hit, the New York Mets (57-34) found that moment in extra innings in a 2-1 victory over the Cubs (34-56) on Saturday afternoon. Taijuan Walker was fantastic on the bump, Pete Alonso set a new franchise record and drove in the winning run, and the Mets have strung together three straight wins as the All-Star break looms.

The two starters went toe-to-toe early on in this one, as Taijuan Walker and Marcus Stroman combined to allow just one hit through the first three innings. Both starters benefited from generous strike calls, and Cubs manager David Ross got ejected for the second straight game after arguing balls and strikes.

The Mets finally found a breakthrough in the fourth inning when Pete Alonso lined an RBI double to score Francisco Lindor and give the Mets a 1-0 lead. That hit gave Alonso 75 RBI on the season, a new franchise record for runs batted in prior to the All-Star break. He broke a tie with David Wright, who drove in 74 runs prior to the All-Star break in the 2006 season.

The Cubs answered right back in the bottom of the fourth inning, as Frank Schwindel singled home Nico Hoerner to tie the game at 1-1. Walker was able to get out of the inning without allowing any further damage.

Stroman’s day was done after 4 1/3 innings in his first start against the Mets since leaving the team in free agency this past winter. He allowed just that one hit to Alonso and struck out six.

Walker was brilliant outside of that lone blemish in the fourth inning, and he has now completed six innings in eight consecutive starts. He allowed four hits and issued two walks, but he did an excellent job of pitching his way out of jams and lowered his season ERA to an impressive 2.55 mark.

Seth Lugo entered the game in the seventh inning and immediately ran into trouble, allowing two of the first three batters he faced to reach base. However, he induced an inning-ending double play to keep the game deadlocked.

The Mets finally found themselves with a chance to take the lead in the eighth inning when Alonso stepped up with runners on first and second and two outs, but he couldn’t capitalize on the chance.

Drew Smith pitched a dominant eighth inning, and after Cubs closer David Robertson pitched a shutdown top of the ninth, Adam Ottavino kept the Cubs off the scoreboard to send it to extra innings.

Robertson stayed on for the 10th inning and silenced the Mets’ bats. Ottavino replicated that success in the bottom of the 10th, pitching out of a man on third, no outs jam with some help from Eduardo Escobar and J.D. Davis on what might have been the best defensive play the Mets have made all year.

Alonso gave the Mets the lead in the 11th inning with a sacrifice fly to score Luis Guillorme, and Edwin Díaz came on in the bottom of the 11th to close it out and secure his 2oth save of the season. The Mets are now 8-1 in extra-inning games, and they continue to find ways to win in games that the squads of previous seasons might have dropped.

Player of the Game: Pete Alonso

Alonso was the entire offense on Saturday afternoon. He drove in both of the team’s runs, and his 76 RBI on the season leads the league. He may not be starting the All-Star game, but he is as deserving of a spot on the All-Star roster as they come.

Final line for Alonso: 1-for-4, 2B, 2 RBI, SO

On Deck

The Mets will look to sweep the doubleheader and secure a series victory when they face off against the Cubs on Saturday night at Wrigley Field. First pitch is scheduled for 8:05 p.m. ET, and the game will be broadcast on SNY. The Mets will have Max Scherzer on the mound, while the Cubs will run out Drew Smyly.