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Cubs Roll Mets

Jake Arrieta pitched five effective innings Tuesday and Craig Kimbrel escaped a jam in the ninth, sending the Cubs to a 3-1 victory over the Mets.

 

Arrieta (3-1) allowed one run and three hits, struck out four, and walked three. Wearing short sleeves on a cool, clear evening - the game-time temperature was 36 degrees - he also contributed to two runs at the plate.

 

Eric Sogard had two hits, scored twice, and drove in a run to help Chicago rebound from Sunday's 13-4 loss to Atlanta. Sogard was inserted into the lineup when David Bote was scratched with an upset stomach.

 

The Cubs had just four hits and struck out 12 times, including four for Javier Baez. Hampered by early offensive trouble, the reigning NL Central champions have won just three of their last nine games.

 

J.D. Davis homered for New York, but also committed two throwing errors at third base - including one that brought home Chicago's first run. The Mets had won five of six.

 

Taijuan Walker (0-1) matched his career-high with six walks in 3 2/3 innings, then was ejected by John Libka when he expressed frustration with the umpire's strike zone on his way out of the game. Walker was charged with two earned runs and two hits.

 

After Arrieta departed, Rex Brothers, Brandon Workman, and Andrew Chafin combined for three innings before Kimbrel worked a shaky ninth for his fourth save.

 

With one out and the bases loaded, Kimbrel struck out Brandon Nimmo and retired Francisco Lindor on a bouncer to first.

 

Sogard used his legs to get Chicago on the board in the third. He reached on a leadoff walk and advanced on Arrieta's sacrifice on an 0-2 pitch from Walker.

 

Willson Contreras hit a two-out grounder to Davis at third, and he skipped his throw across the diamond. Sogard kept running and scored without a throw when the ball got away from first baseman Pete Alonso.

 

The Cubs tacked on two more after Walker retired the first two batters in the fourth. Heyward singled, swiped second with a slick slide and scored on Sogard's liner to center. Three consecutive walks, including one to Arrieta, produced another run and chased Walker.

 

The Mets challenged Heyward's first steal of the season, but the close call was upheld.

 

Mets left-hander David Peterson (1-1, 6.30 ERA) and Cubs right-hander Zach Davies (1-2, 10.32) pitch Wednesday night. Peterson is coming off a sharp performance against Philadelphia, striking out 10 over six innings in a 5-1 victory. Davies has dropped his last two starts, allowing 11 runs in 5 2/3 innings.

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