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 Herrera laid down a perfect safety squeeze in the second inning and
hit a two-run homer in the sixth as the Cubs completed a season
sweep of the New York Mets with a 6-1 win at Citi Field.
It was just the 16th start of the season for Herrera, who played
third base with phenom Kris Bryant getting his first day off as a
major leaguer. He said warming up with the starters, even on the
days he's not playing, helps keep him focused for when he does get
an opportunity to enter a game.
"Guys sometimes ask, 'You playing?' because they saw me in the
lineup with the other guys, stretching and throwing," Herrera said.
"I say, no, I'm not playing, but I need to be ready and feel like
I'm playing."
Herrera's squeeze brought home left fielder Chris Coghlan and gave
the Cubs a 1-0 lead. Chicago took the lead for good on an RBI single
by first baseman Anthony Rizzo in the fifth before Herrera chased
Mets right-hander Jacob deGrom in the sixth when he homered just
beyond the reach of leaping right fielder Curtis Granderson to
extend the Cubs' lead to 4-1.
Herrera's first homer since July 7, 2013, and first three-RBI game
since April 14, 2011, also helped make Cubs manager Joe Maddon look
prescient.
"Seems like any time Johnny Herrera goes on the field, he does
something good for us," Maddon said during his pregame press
conference. "So let's see what happens."
Reminded of his comments hours later, Maddon grinned.
"He's done a great job," Maddon said. "Goes from the safety squeeze
bunt, perfectly executed, to putting the ball over the wall when you
need it.
"Worked a great at-bat, hits a homer, plays a nice third base. He
stays ready."
Herrera's support was more than enough for right-hander Jake Arrieta,
who cruised through eight innings against the Mets' lifeless lineup.
Arrieta allowed one run, five hits and no walks while striking out
seven. He retired 15 of the final 18 batters he faced after Curtis
Granderson's tying RBI double with two outs in the third.
Maddon said he was planning to give Arrieta a chance at his second
complete game in three starts before catcher Miguel Montero hit a
two-run homer in the top of the ninth.
Instead, left-hander Travis Wood needed just seven pitches to retire
the side in order as the Cubs completed the three-game sweep, during
which they outscored the Mets 9-1, to finish 7-0 against New York
this season.
It is the first time Chicago has swept a season series of seven or
more games since 1885 when the Cubs -- then known as the White
Stockings -- went 15-0 against the Buffalo Bisons.
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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"We knew we had to pick it up," Arrieta said. "We had to make a
decision coming here: Were we up for that challenge? And we came out
and pitched extremely well (and) swung the bats just enough."
The Mets (40-40) could only pull off half that equation. New York's
pitchers have posted a 1.57 ERA in the last seven games, a stretch
in which the Mets have scored just 14 runs -- seven of which were
produced Sunday when right-hander Steven Matz had three hits and
four RBI in his major league debut.
"We've got to lighten it up around here," Mets manager Terry Collins
said. "They are so tense, they are so tight. They are so worried
about making a big out instead of walking up there like they're
going to get a hit."
DeGrom, who had a 1.23 ERA in his previous eight starts, fell to 8-6
after allowing four runs (three earned), seven hits and two walks
while striking out two in 5 1/3 innings. He also doubled in the
third and scored on Granderson's hit.
"He battled and he battled," Collins said. "He knew we needed him
out there and he kept us virtually in the game until the home run by
Herrera."
NOTES: Masanori Murakami, the first native of Japan to play in the
majors, threw out the first pitch. Mets RHP Jacob deGrom shook
Murakami's hand before Murakami stepped onto the mound. ... Mets LF
Michael Cuddyer (left knee) was unavailable for a second straight
game. Manager Terry Collins said the Mets would have to consider a
disabled list stint if Cuddyer, who had a cortisone shot Wednesday,
isn't better in a couple of days. ... Collins rejiggered the Mets'
moribund lineup by batting CF Darrell Ceciliani second for the first
time as a big-leaguer and playing IF Eric Campbell in left field for
the first time this season. But they were hitless in seven at-bats.
... Injured Cubs OF Jorge Soler is scheduled to play in his third
rehab game for Triple-A Iowa on Thursday night. ... Cubs manager Joe
Maddon said RHP Donn Roach will start Saturday. It will be his
second start in place of injured LHP Tsuyoshi Wada.
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