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.