NLCS Game 2: Daniel Murphy strikes again as Mets win 4-1 over Cubs

Daniel Murphy struck again and, in the process, put the New York Mets two wins away from the World Series. Murphy, New York’s unlikely postseason hero, homered in his fourth straight game, leading the Mets to a 4-1 win over the Chicago Cubs in Game 2 of the National League Championship Series.

With Mets starter Noah Syndergaard neutralizing the Cubs’ lineup and Chicago ace Jake Arrieta looking very mortal yet again, the Mets now lead the series 2-0 as it heads to Wrigley Field.

(Getty Images) • You’d think Daniel Murphy was the Mets’ slugging star the way he’s been hitting the past week. His homer was huge in the first inning, immediately deflating the Cubs. It was Murphy’s fourth straight postseason game with a homer, and those came against an impressive list of pitchers — Arrieta, Clayton Kershaw, Zack Greinke and Jon Lester. Dang! Keep in mind that Murphy only hit 14 homers all season.

• Syndergaard almost looked like an ace in this one. The rookie fireballer struck out nine and gave up just three hits. His pitch count was a little high, so he only lasted 5.2 innings. But for the first five, he held the explosive Cubs’ offense to just one hit.

• Curtis Granderson continues to pace the Mets. He had a hit and a walk from his spot atop New York’s order, scoring two runs and stealing two bases. In addition, he made a stellar catch in right field to rob Chris Coghlan of a homer in the second inning.

• Kris Bryant was the only Cubs hitter to really make an impact in this game. He had two of Chicago’s three hits, including an RBI double in sixth that gave the Cubs their only run and sent Syndergaard to the bench.

• Remember when Jake Arrieta was bulletproof? Not any more. The Chicago Cubs starter allowed four earned runs for the second straight postseason game, which is like giving seven runs for another pitcher. Arrieta, one of top contenders for the NL Cy Young, only gave up four earned runs four times in 2015. The only time it happened consecutively was in early May. But the Mets jumped on him early, putting three runs across in the first inning and effectively putting the game out of reach right then and there. It was Arrieta’s first loss since July 25.

• Lots of heads hanging in the sluggish Cubs starting lineup, but Kyle Schwarber was most notable. He was 0-for-4 on the night, striking out three times in three at-bats against Syndergaard and leaving three runners on base in total.

When Dexter Fowler knocked a two-out single in the top of the eighth inning, it seemed like a good opportunity for Chicago. They were facing Tyler Clippard and had the tough part of their lineup coming up. Schwarber, who had homered in three straight games, came to the plate and had Cubs fans thinking maybe a comeback might be possible. Nope. He flied to left and that was that.

On Mets starter Syndergaard, from the invaluable Ace of MLB Stats:

#Mets Noah Syndergaard is the youngest pitcher in baseball history to have at least 9 K in multiple games during a single #postseason.

— Ace of MLB Stats (@theaceofspaeder) October 19, 2015

• Whether the Cubs can dig themselves out of this hole. Not only are they down 0-2, but they lost the two games that their best starters pitched. The Cubs’ rotation gets shaky after Arrieta and Game 1 starter Jon Lester. If they’re going to come back in this series, they’ll need to do it with the back-end of their rotation and, probably more importantly, their offense.

• The indispensible Daniel Murphy, who has now endeared himself to Mets fans like never before. Murphy is heading into free agency this winter and the Mets aren’t expected to re-sign him. Will they face mutiny now if they don’t?

The series moves to Chicago now, where Wrigley Field is sure to be rabid for Game 3 on Tuesday. The Cubs could use the boost. Down 0-2, they’ll face yet another great Mets pitcher, Jacob deGrom (14-8, 2.54 ERA). Chicago counters with Kyle Hendricks (8-7, 3.95). The game starts at 8 p.m. ET and airs on TBS.

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