CHICAGO — Francisco Alvarez did all he could to will his membership to a victory Wednesday evening time at Wrigley Subject going 2-for-3 with a two-run homer off former Mets right-hander Marcus Stroman. However the Mets’ bats have been as chilly as a result of the virtually 20 mph winds blowing in from Lake Michigan and the offense produced little else in a 4-2 loss to the Chicago Cubs.
The Mets, who acquired right here into the Windy Metropolis driving a five-game worthwhile streak, dropped the sequence with their second straight loss.
Alvarez’s residence run acquired right here throughout the prime of the third. The biting winds that blew in from correct space made life troublesome for right-handed hitters, nonetheless Alvarez drove the ball correct by way of the thick, icy air sending it once more 390 toes for his sixth residence run of the season.
“I do know his two-seam sinker doesn’t actually go side-to-side, it drops a bit of extra,” the catcher talked about. “So I used to be simply making an attempt to get out and be stage with it and I type of needed to uppercut it.”
The wind didn’t seem to impact Alvarez.
“I feel each groups needed to hit into the wind a bit of bit. That’s what’s so spectacular about Francisco’s residence run,” talked about supervisor Buck Showalter. That one didn’t have time to get lots wind involved.”
Alvarez put the Mets up 2-0 nonetheless the lead wouldn’t closing prolonged.
The Cubs (22-26) took a 3-2 lead throughout the bottom of the physique.
Kodai Senga has been inconsistent from start to start, nonetheless nearly all of his struggles have been the outcomes of a extreme stroll value. The Mets have however to resolve the rookie right-hander’s administration factors. His stuff is nice, nonetheless discovering it has been the most important draw back for him in his first season in North America.
Senga (4-3) walked 5 hitters Wednesday evening time. He minimized the damage nonetheless the walks helped maximize his pitch rely.
“Ever since coming over right here, since beginning to pitch within the huge leagues, I have a look at the information a bit of bit extra,” Senga talked about by way of a translator. I’ve pinpoint spots I want to throw it and in earlier outings, I’d be solely a bit off or just barely throughout the strike zone. However at current I was very clearly out of the strike zone. Very clear balls, very clear walks.
“I’d positively like to attenuate these kinds of walks.”
Senga (4-3) masterfully obtained out of jams throughout the fourth and fifth innings to rebound from that three-run third.
Down 3-2 throughout the fourth, Senga walked the No. 8 and 9 hitters to steer off. There have been PitchCom factors that prompted Francisco Lindor to return again to the mound and signal his translator, Hiro Fujiwara. Senga appeared rattled and took a step off the mound, getting referred to as for a balk to advance the runners. The Mets obtained Tommy Hunter throughout the bullpen.
Showalter acquired right here out to talk to the umpires, clearly agitated, nonetheless Senga settled down from there. He struck out Nico Hoerner, obtained Miles Mastrobuoni to pop as a lot as shallow center space and Dansby Swanson grounded out to complete the inning.
Senga had two on with two out throughout the fifth after Brett Baty deflected Christopher Morel’s line drive, nonetheless he struck out Matt Mervis to complete the inning and end his evening time at three runs on six hits.
The suitable-hander threw a career-high 106 pitches, stranded eight runners and struck out six over 5 innings.
“I’d similar to to see him be capable to handle his pitches a bit of extra as a result of his stuff is sweet sufficient to get deeper into video games,” Showalter talked about.
Drew Smith gave up a home run to Hoerner throughout the sixth to make it 4-2. Smith has now allowed runs in three straight appearances (4 runs, three earned) after allowing solely two baserunners in his earlier 5.
Stroman (4-4) restricted the Mets to 2 earned runs on 4 hits, walked one and struck out three over eight innings.
“It was two various kinds of pitchers tonight however in numerous methods they’d related effectiveness,” Showalter talked about. “Considered one of them went eight and that’s what Kodai is able to doing if he manages his pitches a bit of bit higher. Not numerous fast outs in comparison with what Stroman was capable of do.”
The Mets threatened throughout the eighth with runners on the corners, nonetheless the Lengthy Island native obtained Alvarez to flooring into an inning-ending double play. Mark Leiter Jr. remodeled the save (two) by retiring the facet in order throughout the ninth.
“Clearly, I needed successful there in that huge spot,” Alvarez talked about. “However I simply needed to assist the group there in that second.”
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Originally posted 2023-05-25 13:35:14.