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).
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