NEW YORK — With all of the discuss in regards to the eye-popping numbers Cody Bellinger and the Chicago Cubs are placing up on the plate currently, maybe Jameson Taillon and their unheralded bullpen are getting slightly missed.
Mike Tauchman hit a tiebreaking homer within the eighth inning and Taillon retired his ultimate 16 batters to win his fourth straight begin because the surging Cubs beat the New York Mets 3-2 on Tuesday night time.
Bellinger additionally went deep and Yan Gomes had an RBI double for the Cubs, who received for the sixteenth time in 21 video games. They moved inside 1 1/2 video games of first-place Milwaukee within the NL Central and simply forward of Cincinnati in a crowded wild-card race for the league’s ultimate playoff spot.
“It’s really electric,” nearer Adbert Alzolay mentioned. “I feel like, just as a team right now, the chemistry is so good that we just want to be here, we just want to be around each other.”
Pete Alonso hit an early two-run homer for the sinking Mets that culminated in an amusing back-and-forth trot across the bases due to a replay assessment. New York has misplaced seven of eight since buying and selling Justin Verlander and different veterans finally week’s deadline.
Tauchman additionally made a troublesome catch in deep proper discipline to assist maintain the Mets from scoring within the eighth. Julian Merryweather retired 2022 huge league batting champion Jeff McNeil with runners on the corners to finish the inning.
PHOTOS: Tauchman and Taillon lead the surging Cubs previous the Mets 3-2 at Citi Field
Alzolay labored a one-hit ninth for his fifteenth save in 16 tries. He began a 1-6-3 double play on Daniel Vogelbach to shut it out.
“You’ve just got to be ready for those moments,” Alzolay mentioned. “When I saw the ball I was like, hell yeah, the ball is here, now we can make a double play and go home.”
Taillon (7-6) allowed three hits in seven innings and improved to 5-0 with a 2.17 ERA in his previous six outings. He struck out seven, walked none and didn’t allow a baserunner after Omar Narváez’s two-out double within the second.
“Just the work between starts, I really think I’ve found a good scouting method, a good note-taking method,” Taillon mentioned.
With one out within the eighth, Tauchman despatched a payoff pitch from Drew Smith (4-4) to left-center for an opposite-field homer that put Chicago in entrance for the primary time.
“When you get into 3-2 counts – which I think we lead baseball in – you have to lower your sights a little bit from where you’re supposed to throw the ball to certain hitters to get them out,” Mets supervisor Buck Showalter mentioned.
Bellinger launched a solo shot off starter Carlos Carrasco within the fourth, including to his current tear and increasing his hitting streak to 10 video games. Gomes tied it with an RBI double within the fifth following a leadoff stroll to Christopher Morel.
“It’s been fun,” Bellinger mentioned. “I think that no matter what happened the previous day, we all come in with a plan. And that’s kind of allowed us to have success whether we win or lose the day before.”
SUZUKI SPEAKS
Slumping proper fielder Seiya Suzuki, who lately misplaced his on a regular basis job with the Cubs, spoke with reporters earlier than the sport and acknowledged that teammates who’re swinging higher proper now needs to be within the lineup. He mentioned he’s been too hesitant on the plate, however he stays assured and must step up and work more durable to earn his beginning spot again.
“I think it’s all about just being more relaxed in the box,” Suzuki mentioned via a translator. “It’s really important just to stay simple, not to think too much.”
Suzuki is hitting .249 with 9 homers, 37 RBIs and a .715 OPS in his second main league season since arriving from Japan and signing an $85 million, five-year contract. He’s batted third, fourth or fifth 73 occasions for Chicago this season.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Cubs: All-Star RHP Marcus Stroman (proper hip irritation) threw a bullpen. The staff hopes Stroman can return from the injured listing when eligible Aug. 16. … RHP Brad Boxberger (strained proper forearm) and RHP Ethan Roberts (Tommy John surgical procedure) have been scheduled to face hitters on the membership’s advanced in Arizona.
Mets: Struggling RF Starling Marte (strained proper groin) was examined by a health care provider in Philadelphia and felt higher after receiving an injection. He’ll be cleared for mild exercise within the subsequent few days, the staff mentioned. There’s no timeline for Marte’s return, however Showalter expects him again this season. … Right fielder DJ Stewart was scratched with a sore wrist.
UP NEXT
Cubs: RHP Kyle Hendricks (4-6, 3.98 ERA) pitches Wednesday night time within the finale of the three-game sequence. Hendricks was tagged for a season-high seven runs – all within the fourth inning – throughout final Friday’s loss to Atlanta at Wrigley Field. He is 4-1 with a 2.62 ERA in six profession begins in opposition to the Mets. After recovering from a shoulder tear, Hendricks made his season debut May 25 versus the Mets at dwelling and took the loss, permitting 5 runs (three earned) over 4 1/3 innings.
Mets: LHP David Peterson (3-7, 5.65 ERA) has a 2.05 ERA in 10 video games, 4 begins, since getting back from Triple-A Syracuse on June 27. The final time he confronted the Cubs, he obtained just one out and was charged with 5 runs and three walks in a loss at Citi Field in September 2022.
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