Our pitching’s been fantastic, ” Cubs outfielder Mike Baxter said.
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New York will welcome Daniel Murphy back to the lineup on Tuesday after being on the disabled list since June 4 with a strained left quadriceps. “So have we. It’s the ebb and flow of the season”.
But the Cubs managed only four hits against the Mets, whose pitchers have yielded just five runs in the last 51 innings (0.88 ERA). However, he’s only been backed by seven runs over that stretch, getting one or none in five. The crowd booed several times as New York kept making weak outs and breaking their bats.
Mets manager Terry Collins says that Mejia will have a spot in the bullpen when his suspension is up, but it will likely be as the setup guy as Jeurys Familia has the role of closer and is doing a fine job with 21 saves in 23 appearances so far this season.
Hamilton hit two singles and made a nice running catch of a sinking liner to left field in his eighth game of the season.
“I would have liked to have gotten more hits, but it felt good in there from a personal standpoint”, Murphy said. Also receiving a break is rookie third baseman Kris Bryant, as Jonathan Herrera will start in his place. That was theme of the visit as their woes disappeared – prior to the finale, the clubhouse was filled with the 1965 hit “Do You Believe in Magic” by The Lovin’ Spoonful. Manny Ramirez, a special assistant for the Cubs, is in New York with the major league club.
“We know what we’re facing”, Collins said.
The Cubs win puts them 1.5 games ahead of the Giants for the second wild card spot. Anthony Rizzo blooped an RBI single for 2-1 lead in the fifth. This was Colon’s first no-decision in 24 home starts with the Mets.
It’s almost impossible for a team to get shut out at home for 20 straight innings against the same team, but our Mets did just that. The Mets have scored seven runs in their last three games and three or less runs in eight of their last 10 games.
While the Mets seem to be shopping Niese, and the Cubs and Dodgers have expressed interest in the lefty, the really can’t get rid of him fast enough. Injured Cubs OF Jorge Soler is scheduled to play in his third rehab game for Triple-A Iowa on Thursday night….
Mets: LF Michael Cuddyer sat out with a sore left knee and might not play Thursday afternoon, either, Collins said. Jason Hammel (5-3, 2.92) faces the Marlins’ Tom Koehler (6-4, 3.66).
In Los Angeles this weekend, the Mets are expected to face Clayton Kershaw and Zack Greinke.
Nationals 6, Braves 1: Jordan Zimmermann took a shutout into the eighth inning as Washington has won nine straight in the season series with Atlanta.
The sweep at Citi Field also allowed the Cubs (42-35) to finish 3-3 on a road trip that began with the St. Louis Cardinals outscoring Chicago 15-4 in a sweep at Busch Stadium.
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The Mets need desperately to add a bat before the trade deadline, and if they have anything that other teams will want, beyond their prospects, it’s Niese.
