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 The Chicago Cubs right hander worked a season-high eight innings and
allowed just one run on three hits in a 6-1 victory over the New
York Mets on Tuesday night at Wrigley Field.
"I felt pretty strong throughout the entire outing," said Arrieta,
who walked two and struck out a season-best 10. "Getting deep into
the game is something I feel that I can do every time out."
The victory was the second straight for the Cubs to open the
four-game series.
Arrieta (4-3) worked his longest outing since a nine-inning shutout
win on Sept. 16, 2014, against the Cincinnati Reds.
"You have to pitch well to beat good pitching and we did tonight,"
said Cubs manager Joe Maddon. "He had really good stuff. He and
Miggy (catcher Miguel Montero) worked really well in concert tonight
and that was fun to watch."
Mets right-hander Noah Syndergaard was also quite good through much
of his major league debut.
"He was electric," Arrieta said. "We kind of knew what we were up
against and he came out strong."
Syndergaard successfully worked out of jams in the third and fifth
innings, but his good fortune ended as the Cubs broke the game open
in the sixth.
"It was the first time I've seen him pitch in a real game and I was
very impressed," Mets manager Terry Collins said. "I thought he
threw the ball well and obviously he has good stuff.
"He came up here bound and determined to show everybody he belongs
here and I think he did that.
Shortstop Starlin Castro doubled home right fielder Jorge Soler to
give the Cubs a 1-0 lead. Castro came home on left fielder Chris
Coghlan's fourth homer of the year.
Syndergaard (0-1) struck out Arrieta and then departed after
allowing three runs on six hits in 5 1/3 innings. He walked four and
struck out six.
"It's something I'll cherish the rest of my life," Syndergaard said.
"I was really nervous up until I walked the steps of this dugout and
started warming up.
"But from the first pitch on I felt really good out there."
Left-handed reliever Alex Torres replaced Syndergaard and walked the
bases loaded. Catcher Miguel Montero's infield single with two outs
scored third baseman Kris Bryant to make it 4-0.
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Second baseman Addison Russell's RBI double off left-hander Sean
Gilmartin with two out in the seventh scored Castro for a 5-0 Cubs
lead.
Arrieta gave up back-to-back singles to open the eighth, and first
baseman Lucas Duda scored from third on catcher Kevin Plawecki's
sacrifice fly to break the shutout.
In the bottom of the eighth, Bryant got the run back with a leadoff
solo home run off Mets right-hander Hansel Robles to left to make it
6-1. It was his second homer in as many nights.
Bryant went 3-for-4 with an RBI, Castro was 2-for-4 with two runs,
and Soler was 2-for-5 with a run.
NOTES: The Mets bullpen allowed just one run in 21 1/3 innings (0.42
ERA) in May before giving up three runs in 2 2/3 innings Tuesday.
... New York C Kevin Plawecki is batting .545 with runners in
scoring position. ... Mets RHP Matt Harvey (5-1, 2.72 ERA) will face
Cubs RHP Jason Hammel (3-1, 3.52 ERA) on Wednesday. ... Wrigley
Field has not been the Friendly Confines for the visiting Mets, who
have lost six of their past seven series there and four straight.
... Cubs batters were averaging 3.99 pitches per plate appearance
through Monday, the most in the National League and second in the
majors. ... Cubs 1B Anthony Rizzo hit his 99th career double. He
also walked three times in five plate appearances.
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