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Thor Hammers Cubs, Another Murphy HR, Mets Lead NLCS 2-0

Thor Hammers Cubs

ALEX TRAUTWIG/MLB PHOTOS

Thor: Mythical god of thunder. And in the case of the Mets Game 2 starter, would have to say Thunder and Lightning.

Noah Syndergaard took the ball for the Mets against the Cubs on Sunday night and did what NY fans had hoped and that is shut down the Chicago offense and give his club a chance to win. Thor, as he is passionately known to his fan base, threw 5.1 innings allowing one run on three hits, with one walk and nine strike outs.

On the other side of the diamond, the Cubs started Ace Jake Arrieta, who won 22 games in the regular season and was 2-0 with a 2.45 ERA before Game 2.

But the Mets got to Arrieta in the first inning, as they strung together three straight hits, highlighted by David Wright‘s RBI double scoring Curtis Granderson and Daniel Murphy‘s fourth straight game with a home run, a two run bomb squeezing past the right field pole putting the Mets up 3-0. A very unlikely turn around to Arrieta’s Game 2 start, which the Cubs hoped he would lead them to a series tie.

In the bottom of the third, the Mets added a run to their lead as Yoenis Cespedes grounded into the hole at shortstop and Javier Baez could not make a throw to first, allowing Granderson, who walked, stole second and third, and scored the Mets fourth run.

Arrieta left after five innings, and the Cubs bullpen shut down the Mets allowing just one hit over three innings.

But the Cubs finally broke through in the top of the sixth off Syndergaard, scoring a run on Kris Bryant‘s two out RBI double reducing the Mets lead to 4-1.

From that point on, the Mets used a combination of Jon Niese, Addison Reed, Tyler Clippard to bridge the gap to closer Jeurys Familia, who came on in the ninth and worked around a one out single and retired the next two batters to secure a Mets victory and a 2-0 lead in the NLCS.

Now both teams travel to Chicago for Game 3 on Tuesday, as the Mets look to take a commanding 3-0 lead and the Cubs look to get back in the series and grab the advantage.

Game Notes

Daniel Murphy tied Mike Piazza as only Mets to hit 5 home runs in post season.

Top Performers

Cubs
Dexter Fowler – 2 for 3, R, BB
Kris Bryant – 2 for 4, Double, RBI

Mets
David Wright – 1 for 4, Double, RBI
Daniel Murphy – 1 for 4, HR, 2 RBI
Noah Syndergaard – 5.2 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 9 K

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