Following Friday night's rainout, the Mets outlasted the Chicago Cubs for a 2-1 win in game one of Saturday's doubleheader.
Here are five things to know...
1. Taijuan Walker and former Met Marcus Stroman were locked in a real pitchers’ duel early, with the former teammates each posting zeros on the scoreboard through the first three innings (though there were some questionable strike calls, leading to another ejection of Cubs manager David Ross).
But Pete Alonso broke the scoreless tie and made some Mets history in the process in the top of the fourth inning, doubling into the right-center gap to score Francisco Lindor all the way from first base. The RBI was Alonso’s 75th, breaking David Wright’s previous team record of 74 RBI before the All-Star break (set in 2006).
2. The Cubs finally got to Walker in the bottom of the fourth. After Nico Hoerner stole second with two outs, he came around to score on a Frank Schwindel shift-beater single, tying the game at 1-1.
But as has been the case for the entire first half, Walker was excellent once again on Saturday, going 6.0 innings allowing just one run on four hits while striking out five and Walking two. Walker finishes his first half with a 2.55 ERA.
3. Stroman, making his second start since coming off the IL, threw a lot of pitches but was very effective, going 4.1 innings while allowing just one earned run on one hit. He struck out six and walked two, throwing 83 pitches (49 strikes).
4. Seth Lugo pitched a shaky seventh inning for the Mets, though he got out of it unscathed. Lugo had trouble with his command, throwing 13 of his 24 pitches out of the strike zone, and he allowed two runners to reach base. Fortunately for the Mets, Lugo was able to induce a Christopher Morel double-play ball to end the inning.
With the game still tied, Drew Smith pitched the eighth inning for the Mets, and the right-hander was on his game. He needed just 11 pitches to finish a 1-2-3 frame, striking out two. After potential trade candidate David Robertson pitched an easy top of the ninth, Adam Ottavino got the ball in the bottom half of the inning, and matched with a scoreless frame, sending the game to extras.
5. In the top of the tenth, Dom Smith appeared to roll his right ankle while retreating to second base on a bunt attempt. He came out of the game and was replaced by J.D. Davis.
Robertson allowed a walk in the inning, but he held the Mets scoreless. In the bottom of the 10th, pinch-runner Nelson Velazquez stole third off of Ottavino to get things start, but Ottavino struck out the next two and Davis made an unbelievable pick at first base to end the inning.
In the 11th, the Mets finally squeezed across a second run, thanks to a Lindor single and an Alonso sac fly to right. Edwin Diaz was able to close things out in the bottom of the 11th, and the Mets took the first two games of the series.