Harvey's heroics help Mets edge Cubs in Game 1
With pitch limits and missed workouts dominating the headlines, Matt Harvey let his pitching do the talking in Game 1 of the NLCS, and he had the loudest voice among the 44,287 at Citi Field.
The right-hander scattered two runs over 7 2/3 innings, and catcher Travis d'Arnaud went 2-for-3 with a home run, as the New York Mets took Game 1 with a 4-2 win over the visiting Chicago Cubs.
The Cubs entered the series leading the postseason in home runs, but it was the Mets who benefited from the long ball in the opener. Daniel Murphy continued his torrid October with his fourth of the playoffs to open the scoring, while d'Arnaud's sixth-inning solo shot would be the eventual game-winner.
Top Performer: Murphy tied the Mets' franchise record with his fourth home run of the postseason as the second baseman continues to pace the New York offense. Murphy added Cubs starter Jon Lester to the list of All-Star arms he's taken deep these playoffs, joining Zack Greinke and Clayton Kershaw (twice). Fittingly, Murphy ended the game after making an excellent diving play to record the final out.
Starting Pitchers: After acknowledging disappointment with how his postseason debut went in the NLDS, Harvey was at his best Saturday. The 26-year-old took a perfect game into the fifth inning before plunking Anthony Rizzo, and finished the night walking off the mound to a standing ovation. Harvey was even drilled in the shoulder with a line drive in the sixth, but managed to record the out and remain in the game.
Lester battled control issues throughout his outing, allowing four runs off eight hits - including a pair of home runs. It was the third time in 16 postseason appearances that he's allowed multiple home runs, and the third time he's allowed four or more runs.
| Pitcher | IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harvey | 7.2 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 9 |
| Lester | 6.2 | 8 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 5 |
Key Moment: Clinging to a 3-1 lead with one out and a pair of runners on in the seventh, Harvey snuffed out any hope of a Cubs rally. The Mets starter blew a 96-mph fastball past Javier Baez for the second out and followed that by getting Tommy La Stella with a 88-mph changeup to end the inning and the threat.
(Videos courtesy: MLB.com)
Up Next: The two teams will renew hostilities on Sunday when the Cubs send NL Cy Young candidate Jake Arrieta (2-0, 2.45 ERA) to the mound to face Mets right-hander Noah Syndergaard (0-1, 3.68 ERA).