Jerry Blevins allowed a go-ahead double by Ben Zobrist in the seventh inning as the Mets fell to the Cubs, 7-4, on Monday night at Wrigley Field.
For a full box score of the game, click here.
Things you should know about tonight's game...
1) Blevins (1-2) did not retire a batter in the seventh inning and was charged with two runs on three hits. He allowed consecutive doubles to Anthony Rizzo, which was aided by instant replay, and Zobrist before yielding an infield single to Jason Heyward.
2) Noah Syndergaard allowed hits to the first four batters he faced which proved a portend of things to come. The right-hander slogged his way through six innings and allowed four runs on nine hits, including a two-out, two-run single by Jon Lester, and three walks with six strikeouts. He has a 4.74 ERA in six starts since returning from a bout with hand, foot and mouth disease and has surrendered four runs three times in that span.
3) Amed Rosario singled twice, drove in a run and stole a base and Michael Conforto slugged a 472-foot solo home run. Kevin Plawecki tied the game, 4-4, with a solo blast in the seventh, singled and scored twice. Austin Jackson chipped in two singles and an RBI. New York loaded the bases in the ninth on two singles and a walk, but Rosario and Jackson struck out.
News and notes...
The Mets have lost eight straight games to the Cubs and 13 of 14 regular season contests at Wrigley Field. Chicago swept New York at Citi Field from May 31-June 3. The Mets are 9-21 (.300) against the Cubs since 2014.
Jay Bruce has hit safely in all four games since he returned from the disabled list after his pinch-hit single in the ninth.
Jeff McNeil flied out as a pinch-hitter in the seventh to end his hitting streak at 11 games.
Rosario is hitting .304 (24-for-79) with six extra-base hits, 14 RBIs and 15 runs scored in his last 18 games.
Blevins surrendered his first runs since July 15, a span of 10 2/3 innings.
Syndergaard has surrendered two runs or fewer in 10 of his 19 starts but once in his last six. The 25-year-old made his Major League debut at Wrigley Field on May 12, 2015.
What's next...
The Mets (58-73) continue their series with the Cubs (77-53) on Tuesday night at Wrigley Field at 8 p.m. on SNY.
Jacob deGrom (8-8, 1.71 ERA/2.07 FIP, 214 K's, 0.971 WHIP) continues his push towards a Cy Young Award in the second game of the three-game set. The 30-year-old surrendered two runs -- one earned -- and struck out 10 over six innings of 3-1 loss to the Giants last Thursday. DeGrom yielded one run and tied a career high with 13 strikeouts over seven frames in a no-decision against the Cubs on June 2. He is 2-2 with a 3.47 ERA in six career regular season matchups with Chicago
Cole Hamels (9-9, 3.82 ERA/4.54 FIP, 144 K's, 1.274 WHIP) looks to continue his dominant run since joining the Cubs on July 27. The 2008 World Series MVP has surrendered three earned runs in four starts (0.79 ERA) with Chicago, including his first complete game of the season last Thursday against the Reds. Hamels is 9-14 with a 3.99 ERA in 32 career meetings with the Mets, who he has not faced since 2015.