Martinez hits 3-run homer as Mets attack Imanaga while defeating Cubs 11-1

CHICAGO– JD Martinez, Francisco Alvarez and Brandon Nimmo scored against Shota Imanaga, and the New York Mets defeated the Chicago Cubs 11-1 on Friday.

Francisco Lindor had three hits and scored twice as New York won for the eighth time in nine games. Jose Iglesias went 4-for-5 with three RBIs.

The Mets became the first team to take a second look at Imanaga (7-2) during his impressive transition to the major leagues, and scored the Japanese lefty for 10 runs and 11 hits in three-plus innings. Imanaga pitched seven innings of three-hit ball in a 1-0 win at New York on May 1.

This time, the Mets scored three times before Imanaga recorded his first out. Lindor hit a leadoff double and Nimmo walked before Martinez hit a 412-foot drive to center his ninth homer.

Alvarez led off the second with his second home run. With two outs and Iglesias on first, Nimmo made it 6-1 by hitting a shot from the far side for his tenth goal of the season.

Imanaga crossed his arms over his chest after Nimmo’s home run reached the left field stands.

new York added four more in the fourth. Martinez chased Imanaga with an RBI single, and Iglesias capped the outburst with a two-run single by Hayden Wesneski.

Imanaga’s ERA shot from 1.89 to 2.96 after his shortest stint with Chicago to date. He surrendered two earned runs or less in 12 of his first 13 major league starts.

New York left-hander Jose Quintana (3-5) threw four-hit ball over 6 1/3 innings for his second straight win. He allowed one unearned run, struck out eight and walked one against one of his former teams.

The Cubs fell to 3-4 in a nine-game stretch. Cody Bellinger had two of Chicago’s six hits.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Mets: Manager Carlos Mendoza said RHP Dedniel Núñez was feeling better. He was unavailable for Wednesday night’s 5-3 loss at Texas because of a sinus infection.

Cubs: RHP Ben Brown (neck strain) started throwing ball but didn’t progress to throwing a mound. “We’re just going to increase activity as long as there are no symptoms,” manager Craig Counsell said. “It can happen very quickly here, but we will also be careful not to recreate the symptoms.”

NEXT

Right-handers Tylor Megill (2-3, 3.52 ERA) and Jameson Taillon (3-3, 3.08 ERA) start Saturday. Megill pitched five innings of two-run ball in New York’s 11-6 win against San Diego last weekend. Taillon is 0-3 with a 4.34 ERA in his last seven starts for Chicago.

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