Cubs wait out Harvey, then walk off with win
CHICAGO -- Chris Coghlan drew a walk-off walk with the bases loaded with one out in the ninth inning Wednesday night to lift the Cubs to a 2-1 victory over the Mets for their sixth win in the last at-bat.
"They're starting to believe they can win games late on a consistent basis," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said of his young team. "It's really important to feel that way. You're going to have to beat good pitching by pitching better. You have to come up with the timely hit."
Video: NYM@CHC: Maddon on Hammel, Cubs late-game heroics
With the game tied at 1 in the Chicago ninth, Anthony Rizzo singled to lead off against Carlos Torres. Rizzo was lifted for pinch-runner Matt Szczur, who scampered to third on Starlin Castro's single to left. Miguel Montero was intentionally walked to load the bases and chase Torres. The Mets switched to a five-man infield, moving left fielder Michael Cuddyer in. Jeurys Familia struck out Jorge Soler, but walked Coghlan to force in the game-winning run.
"It's a tough situation," Familia said. "I was just trying to go out there and keep my ball down, looking for a ground ball, a double play. I threw a couple balls down in the zone. They didn't swing. It's my fault."
Coghlan said the key was being able to control his emotions in that situation.
"You want to be the guy," Coghlan said. "Everybody wants to be the guy to drive in the winning run. I just think that's the biggest deal, being able to control your emotions. He didn't give me anything to hit, so I took my walk."
New York starter Matt Harvey was in line for his sixth win, striking out nine over seven innings, but did not get a decision as the Cubs rallied against Torres. With one out in the Chicago eighth, Addison Russell singled and moved up on a wild pitch before scoring on Dexter Fowler's single to right. Fowler was tagged out trying to stretch his hit.
Video: NYM@CHC: Fowler's RBI single ties the ballgame
With a game-time temperature of 43 degrees and an 11 mph northwest wind, it was a perfect setting for a pitchers' duel. The Mets finally broke through in the sixth against Cubs starter Jason Hammel when Curtis Granderson singled, reached third on Daniel Murphy's double, and scored on Cuddyer's groundout. That seemed to be all Harvey needed.
"They're a good offensive team," Harvey said. "Obviously the last couple of games have been really tough pitching-wise. My job is to go out there and limit the damage."
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Harvey dominant: After losing two in a row to the Cubs to open this series, manager Terry Collins said the Mets needed Harvey to show up in vintage form Wednesday. The right-hander complied, striking out five of the first nine batters he faced. Harvey whiffed nine batters in total over seven shutout innings, leaving with a 1-0 lead but settling for a no-decision.
"He's as advertised," Coghlan said. "He commands all four pitches. He didn't throw that many fastballs. It's all slider, cutter, curveball, a couple changeups, and then he'll throw the heater in late. Not many guys who throw 95, 98 [mph] will do that. That's why he's so effective." More >
Video: NYM@CHC: Harvey pitches seven scoreless, fans nine
Hammel settles in: The Mets loaded the bases with one out in the first, but Hammel escaped when he got Wilmer Flores to fly out and then struck out Kevin Plawecki. The Cubs' right-hander needed 21 pitches to get through the first, but settled down, facing the minimum over the next four innings. It helped that he threw just seven pitches each in the third and fourth innings.
"Tonight, facing Harvey, quality arm, it was going to be the first guy to blink, and I was actually the first guy to blink," said Hammel, who gave up one run over eight innings. More >
Video: NYM@CHC: Hammel goes eight innings, fans six
Double or nothing: The Mets' Dilson Herrera was at first with one out in the seventh when Harvey popped up on a bunt attempt. Cubs first baseman Rizzo deked the runner as he faked a catch and instead let the ball drop in front of him on the infield. Rizzo then picked it up to start a 3-6-4 double play and end the inning.
"That's a baseball play right there -- that's good instincts," Hammel said.
Video: NYM@CHC: Rizzo turns Harvey's bunt into double play
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Montero drew a walk in the seventh, the ninth straight game he's gotten a free pass. The last Cubs player to walk in nine straight games was Gary Matthews Jr. in 2001.
WHAT'S NEXT
Mets: Jon Niese, who leads all Mets starting pitchers in ERA, will try to win Thursday's series finale at Wrigley at 2:20 p.m. ET. Niese has allowed a total of one earned run over his last two starts, striking out 11 and walking two.
Cubs: Lefty Travis Wood makes his seventh start of the season on Thursday in the series finale against the Mets. Wood is 2-0 with a 1.29 ERA at Wrigley compared to an 0-2 record and 7.71 ERA on the road. In six career starts against the Mets, the lefty is 2-1 with a 3.34 ERA. First pitch is scheduled for 1:20 p.m. CT at Wrigley Field.
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