Mets blast Shota Imanaga, Cubs in 11-1 win

[June 22, 2024]  J.D. Martinez hit a three-run home run in the first inning to power another outburst by the red-hot New York Mets, who cruised to an 11-1 win over the host Chicago Cubs in the opener of a three-game series Friday afternoon.
 
Jose Iglesias tied a career high with four hits and added three RBIs for the Mets, who have won 14 of 19, a span in which they've scored at least 10 runs in a game five times. New York reached double figures just once in its first 55 games. 

Jun 21, 2024; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Cubs pitcher Shota Imanaga (18) throws the ball against the New York Mets during the first inning at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports

Christopher Morel hit into a run-scoring double play in the first for the Cubs, who fell to 9-18 since May 22.

Martinez's homer gave the Mets the lead against Shota Imanaga (7-2) before the rookie left-hander -- who entered Friday with a 1.89 ERA -- could record an out.

Martinez finished 2-for-4 with four RBIs and is hitting .407 with four homers and 12 RBIs in his last eight games.

Francisco Alvarez homered leading off the second for the Mets, who soon extended their lead to 6-1 on Brandon Nimmo's two-out, two-run shot. Iglesias had an RBI single in the third and closed out the Mets' scoring with a two-run single in the fourth, after Martinez (single) and Starling Marte (fielder's choice) collected RBIs.

The four-hit game was the 12th of Iglesias' career and his first since April 27, 2022, when he was a member of the Colorado Rockies.

Francisco Lindor had three hits and scored twice while Nimmo finished with two hits and three runs.

Jose Quintana (3-5) cruised to the victory after allowing one unearned run on four hits and one walk while striking out eight over 6 1/3 innings. The eight whiffs were the most for Quintana since he struck out 10 for the Mets against the Philadelphia Phillies last Sept. 23.

Imanaga -- who blanked the Mets over seven innings in the Cubs' 1-0 win at Citi Field May 1 -- gave up 10 runs on 11 hits and one walk while striking out three over three-plus innings. The 10 runs allowed are the most by a Chicago starter since Jon Lester surrendered 11 runs against the Oakland Athletics in an 11-4 loss on Aug. 6, 2019.

Cody Bellinger had two hits for the Cubs.

--Field Level Media

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