Mets Vs. Cubs Final Score: New York Slugs Four Homers In 17-1 Thrashing Of Chicago

(Sports Network) - The wind was blowing out at Wrigley Field and the Mets took full advantage, clubbing the Cubs 17-1 and avoiding a three-game sweep.

Daniel Murphy hit his first two home runs since July 16, 2011 and Scott Hairston crushed his second career grand slam for the Mets, who snapped a season-high four-game losing streak.

"I thought in the last four games he's taken much better swings," Mets manager Terry Collins said regarding Murphy. "His balance has been better at the plate. You haven't seen that one-handed swing that he's been caught doing. You know he's going to break out. Murphy's way too good of a hitter."

Ike Davis picked up three extra-base hits and knocked in four runs and David Wright drove in five more.

Jonathan Niese (6-3) held the Cubs to one run on eight hits and a walk in seven innings. The left-hander also struck out six.

"I knew that he was going to pitch well," Collins said. "In the second inning, he was furious that he gave up the run. I thought the way he approached the game today was great."

After a stellar May in which he posted a 2.48 earned run average, Jeff Samardzija (5-7) has struggled mightily in June. Samardzija gave up nine runs in 4 1/3 innings. He allowed six hits and walked four. In his last four starts, the Notre Dame product has given up 25 runs in 18 1/3 innings.

"I'd be lying if I said I weren't concerned with the numbers and execution of pitches," Cubs manager Dale Sveum said. "It hasn't been too good for four or five starts now."

The Mets also touched up Casey Coleman for seven runs in 1 2/3 innings in relief.

"We weren't able to get a couple up in the wind and they were," Cubs outfielder Joe Mather said. "They took advantage of pitches that were over the plate and they didn't swing at the balls that weren't in the zone."

After the Cubs tied the game at one in the second inning, the Mets poured on three runs in the fourth and six runs in the fifth and sixth innings.

Davis doubled down the right-field line to score Lucas Duda and give the Mets a 2-1 lead in the fourth. Two batters later, Murphy ended his long home run drought with a fly ball to right.

Davis and Murphy took center stage in the Mets' six-run fifth inning. Wright smoked a two-run double and Davis lofted a three-run bomb to left-center field to make it 9-1. Murphy added a 10th run with his second homer of the day.

Wright's seeing-eye single up the middle drove in a pair in the sixth. After Duda walked to load the bases, Hairston delivered a grand slam to give the Mets a 16-1 lead.

Murphy knocked in his fourth run of the day on a fielder's choice in the eighth inning.

Ramon Ramirez pitched two scoreless frames in relief to close out the win.

For more on the Mets, please be sure to check out our blog Amazin' Avenue and SB Nation New York for all the latest news and updates.

Mets (39-36) At Cubs (26-48) Preview: Game Time, TV Schedule, Probable Pitchers

Lately, things haven't been going so well for the New York Mets.

The Amazins' have lost four straight after taking the series opener last Friday away from the New York Yankees, including losing the first two games against the hapless Chicago Cubs.

The Mets will look to avoid the sweep on Wednesday afternoon when Jon Niese takes the mound looking for his sixth win of the season.

Niese has been pitching much better recently, going 3-1 in his last six starts. In his most recent trip to the rubber, Niese picked up a victory against the Yankees by going for 6.1 innings and allowing just two runs.

Chicago will counter with ex-Notre Dame wide receiver, Jeff Samardzija. The 27-year-old was pitching well most of the year before being shelled in his last three starts. In those outings, Samardzija has surrendered 16 earned runs in 14 innings.

New York is hoping his problems will continue for at least another day.

TV: SNY

Time: 2:20 p.m. ET

For more on the Mets, please be sure to check out our blog Amazin' Avenue and SB Nation New York for all the latest news and updates.

Mets Vs. Cubs Final Score: New York Drops 4th Straight, 5-3, Tuesday Night

The New York Mets dropped their fourth straight game on the season with a 5-3 loss to the Chicago Cubs in Game 2 of their three-game series at Wrigley Field on Tuesday night. Dillon Gee (5-6) lasted just five innings, giving up four earned runs off nine hits and two walks. He struck out six.

Cubs starter Randy Wells wasn't any better. He lasted just three innings after giving up three earned runs off six hits and four walks, striking out three.

The Mets took a 2-0 lead in the second inning after hitting four straight two-out singles from the 6-9 spots in the lineup. Josh Thole batted in Scott Hairston and advanced Daniel Murphy to third base. On the next at-bat, Gee scored Murphy. Kirk Nieuwenhuis struck out swinging to end the inning.

The Cubs took took over the lead in the third inning, however. Gee gave up a single to David DeJesus and walked Starlin Castro to start the inning, setting up an Alfonso Soriano RBI ground out. Gee then walked Bryan LaHair, bringing up Luis Valbuena who scored Castro on a double to deep right. Darwin Barney scored LaHair on an infield single to second. Valbuena was called out at home on the play to end the inning.

David Wright scored Thole on a sac fly in the fourth to tie the game at 3-3, but the Cubs took the lead for good on an Anthony Rizzo double scoring Steve Clevenger in the bottom of the inning. Wright went 0-3 at the plate, ending his hitting streak at 15 games.

The Mets bullpen gave up just three hits after Gee left the mound, but by then the damage was done. Chicago capped their scoring with a run on a throwing error by Ruben Tejada in the eighth with Justin Hampson on the mound.

Scott Maine (1-1) was given the win after giving up no hits and walking one in two innings of relief for Wells. Carlos Marmol earned his fifth save of the season after fanning Lucas Duda and Hairston in the ninth.

For more on the Mets, please be sure to check out our blog Amazin' Avenue and SB Nation New York for all the latest news and updates.

Mets (39-35) At Cubs (25-48) Preview: Game Time, TV Schedule, Probable Pitchers

A night after allowing four unearned runs in a 6-1 loss at Wrigley Field, the New York Mets will look for a bounce-back victory and to snap a three-game losing streak Tuesday as they play the Chicago Cubs in Game 2 (8:05 p.m. ET on SNY) of a three-game set.

Dillon Gee (5-5) of the Mets will oppose Randy Wells (1-2) in Tuesday's match up. Gee will be looking for his eighth quality start of the season, which has featured him going 3-1 on the road. Overall, the Mets (39-35) are just 16-18 on the road.

Meanwhile, the Cubs (25-48) will start rookie first basemen Anthony Rizzo at first base. Rizza, 22, is the top prospect Chicago's farm system and he will be making his major-league debut.

For more on the Mets, please be sure to check out our blog Amazin' Avenue and SB Nation New York for all the latest news and updates.

Mets Vs. Cubs Final Score: New York Falls, 6-1, In Series Opener Monday Night

The New York Mets fell 6-1 to the Chicago Cubs in the series opener at Wrigley Field on Monday night. Johan Santana (5-4) gave up just two earned runs off five hits and three walks with six strikeouts in six innings, despite being designated with the loss. The Cubs scored four runs in the seventh after Santana left the mound.

Jon Rauch was on the mound for all four runs. None were earned, however, as the Mets committed a comedy of errors on defense. Adrian Cardenas made third base on an error when David Wright called off Mike Nickeas from a high pop-up near home plate. He dropped the ball as it wobbled in the wind down to his mitt. Cardenas scored two batters later when Lucas Duda dropped a fly ball, sending Darwin Barney to third. On the next at-bat, Starlin Castro was called safe at first after Ronny Cedeno failed to corral a grounder, scoring Barney and giving the Cubs a 6-0 lead.

Meanwhile, Travis Wood (2-3) was outstanding on the mound for the Cubs, allowing just five hits and no walks while striking out six in seven shutout innings. The Mets were scoreless until just one out left in the ninth inning when Ike Davis hit a solo home run off James Russell for his ninth homer of the season.

Game 2 is set for 8:05 p.m. ET on Tuesday. The Mets look to rebound with Dillon Gee (5-5, 4.27 ERA) on the mound facing the Cubs' Randy Wells (1-2, 4.91).

For more on the Mets, please be sure to check out our blog Amazin' Avenue and SB Nation New York for all the latest news and updates.

Vinny Rottino Designated For Assignment; Justin Hampson Called Up

The New York Mets designated Vinny Rottino for assignment and selected the contract of Justin Hampson from Triple-A Buffalo on Monday morning, according to the Mets' Twitter feed.

Rottino has appeared in 18 games so far this season and has produced a .182 average with two home runs and five RBI. The 32-year-old outfielder will have to look elsewhere in baseball in hopes of another shot at the big leagues.

On the flip side of this deal is Hampson, who is set to make his first major league appearance since 2008 when he was a member of the San Diego Padres. Hampson was actually quite effective in both years with San Diego (2007-08), where he posted ERA's of 2.70 and 2.93 respectively.

Hampson, 32, provides another lefty presence in the bullpen to pair with Tim Byrdak. Hampson is 4-2 with a 2.13 this year at Buffalo.

For more on the Mets, please be sure to check out our blog Amazin' Avenue and SB Nation New York for all the latest news and updates.

Mets Vs. Cubs Series Preview: Game Time, TV Schedule, Probable Pitchers