Jameson Taillon pitches 7 straight innings as Cubs beat Mets 8-1 originally appeared in NBC Sports Chicago
CHICAGO (AP) – Jameson Taillon pitched seven crisp innings, Christopher Morel homered and the Chicago puppies cooled off the New York Mets with an 8-1 victory on Saturday.
Taillon scored a season-high 10 points in his first win since May 4. The right-hander allowed one run and six hits.
New York averaged 6.6 runs and 10.3 hits while having a 12-3 record in its previous 15 games, including an 11-1 victory in Friday’s series opener. But it was held in check by Taillon (4-3) and two substitutes on a hot afternoon at Wrigley Field.
Francisco Alvarez homered for the second day in a row for New York, and JD Martinez had two of the team’s seven hits. Tylor Megill (2-4) lasted just three innings in his worst start of the season.
The Cubs took control with five runs in the first. Morel scored for Seiya Suzuki and scored on Dansby Swanson’s double. Pete Crow-Armstrong capped the fast start with a standing triple into the right corner, driving in Swanson.
Morel made it 6-0 with a 446-foot strike to center in the third. It was Morel’s team-high 14th home run.
Tomás Nido went 1-for-4 in his first start in Chicago, driving for Crow-Armstrong with a one-two finish in Friday. The veteran catcher was designated for assignment by the Mets on June 11 and signed with the Cubs on Wednesday.
Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor playfully hit Nido’s glove after he was fouled on strike three for the final out in the fifth.
MAKING MOVEMENTS
The Cubs activated right-hander Keegan Thompson from the paternity list and optioned left-hander Luke Little to Triple-A Iowa.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Mets: OF Starling Marte left at second because of soreness in his right knee – a persistent problem for the 35-year-old veteran. … RHP Kodai Senga (capsule strain) is expected to take batting practice on Sunday. Manager Carlos Mendoza said Senga will throw about 20 pitches to hitters at the team’s facility in Florida. … RHP Sean Reid-Foley (shoulder impingement) was placed on the 15-day injured list, and LHP Danny Young was recalled from Triple-A Syracuse.
NEXT
Cubs right-hander Javier Assad (4-2, 2.75 ERA) takes over on Sunday looking for his first win since May 15. He is 0-2 with a 4.75 ERA in his last six starts. Right-hander Luis Severino (4-2, 3.52 ERA) pitches for the Mets.
