CITI FIELD SHOWDOWN: METS TAKE SERIES FROM CUBS IN THRILLING WEEKEND
by: Victor Suarez
The mid-May air at Citi Field crackled with the energy of a high-stakes baseball showdown between two divisional leaders: the New York Mets (25-14) and the Chicago Cubs (23-16). This three-game set was an early test for both teams, particularly for the Mets, who boasted an impressive 13-3 home record entering the weekend.
Friday night saw the Mets assert their dominance in a 7-2 victory. Francisco Lindor ignited the offense immediately, launching a leadoff home run off Cubs starter Jameson Taillon. Brett Baty and Jeff McNeil followed with back-to-back solo shots in the second, and Juan Soto added another homer in the fourth. Every Mets starter had a hit as they overwhelmed Taillon, who gave up four home runs. Mets pitcher Clay Holmes delivered a strong performance, allowing just one earned run over six innings.
Saturday brought a tightly contested 6-5 win for the Cubs, showcasing their resilience. Mets third baseman Brett Baty continued his power surge, accounting for all of New York’s offense with two home runs and five RBIs. However, the Cubs were sparked by dynamic outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong, a former Mets draft pick. PCA had a hit, stole a base, and made a spectacular defensive play. The game also featured the successful MLB debut of Cubs top pitching prospect Cade Horton, who earned the win, showing poise under pressure. Miguel Amaya delivered the decisive two-run single in the eighth.
Sunday’s rubber match was a dramatic affair. Pete Crow-Armstrong hit a game-tying “moonshot” homer for the Cubs in the sixth. Mark Vientos quickly put the Mets back ahead with a solo homer in the bottom of the inning, but Nico Hoerner tied it again for the Cubs in the seventh. With the game tied in the bottom of the eighth, Francisco Lindor came to the plate against reliever Porter Hodge, the same pitcher he grounded into a double play against the night before. Seeking redemption, Lindor launched a go-ahead solo home run into the right-center field stands, sending Citi Field into a frenzy. The Mets offense piled on, with Vientos adding an RBI single and Brandon Nimmo crushing a two-run homer to seal the 6-2 victory and the series.
With the series win, the Mets improved their formidable home record to 15-4. The weekend highlighted the Mets’ ability to win at home, the clutch performances of veterans like Lindor, and the power potential of young hitters like Baty and Vientos. For the Cubs, the series loss was their first consecutive series defeat of the season, but showcased the exciting talent of prospects like Crow-Armstrong and Horton.
