NLCS Game 4: Mets complete sweep, reach first World Series since 2000
The New York Mets wasted no time finishing off the Chicago Cubs, winning Game 4 of the National League championship 8-3 to complete a rather stunning sweep. That means New York has punched its ticket to the World Series for the first time since 2000. They will now await the winner of the ALCS between the Kansas City Royals and Toronto Blue Jays.
The Mets wasted no time in every sense really, breaking out for four runs in the first inning against Jason Hammel. Lucas Duda smacked a two-out, three-run homer to give New York an early lead for the fourth straight game. Travis d’Arnaud followed with a solo home run, and the Mets never looked back thanks to Daniel Murphy’s continued postseason dominance, a short but solid outing from rookie Steven Matz and a good night from the bullpen.
• Lucas Duda entered the game with only three posteason hits, but delivered two critical hits early in Game 4. Duda opened the scoring with his three-run homer in the first inning.He came to the plate with the same scenario in the second inning and again came through, this time with a two-run double. He also doubled in the ninth, giving him three hits and eight total bases for the game. The Mets finally got their Duda back, and at just the right time.
Murphy has hit safely in all nine of New York’s postseason games and is officially the hottest hitter on the planet.
• The Cubs bullpen deserves credit for at least giving the offense a chance. Charged with getting 23 outs, Travis Wood, Clayton Richard, Trevor Cahill, Pedro Strop, Fernando Rodney and Hector Rondon allowed just two runs on seven hits. Four of those hits came off the bat of Murphy, including his homer, so all things considered the bullpen did a really nice job.
• Joe Maddon showed faith in Jason Hammel by giving him the Game 4 nod. It didn’t pay off as the 33-year-old right-hander was knocked out after retiring just four batters. It was actually a surprise that Hammel finished the first inning after allowing the back-to-back homers to Duda and Travis d’Arnaud. He was mercifully pulled after walking David Wright with one out in the second. By then, the damage was already done.
• Kyle Schwarber walked and knocked in a run at the plate, but continued struggling in the field. Schwarber misplayed two more balls, including an ill-advised dive on Wilmer Flores’ sinking liner that resulted in a triple. The Cubs have yet to find a position where Schwarber is both comfortable and able to provide even average defense. His work in the outfield will be a priority this winter.
[Related: ‘Henry Rowengartner’ showed up at Wrigley Field to support the Cubs]
• The Cubs young lineup struggled against the Mets elite young pitching, scoring just eight total runs on 21 hits during the series. Two of those runs came on Kris Bryant’s eighth-inning home run, which was well after this clincher was decided. When the Cubs needed hits the most, they simply failed to come through.
The Mets scored all the runs they needed early, but the Cubs did threaten to make it interesting in a couple different innings. In the fourth, Chicago loaded the bases with nobody out but only managed to score one after David Wright snagged a rocket line drive off the bat of Starlin Castro. If that ball gets by Wright, it likely clears the bases and sets up an entirely different game. As it was, the Cubs settled for just one run.
The Mets never trailed in Game 4, and amazingly never trailed during the entire NLCS. That doesn’t happen often.
• Yoenis Cespedes was pulled from the game with left shoulder soreness. The New York Post reports Cespedes was out golfing earlier Wednesday, so it’s at least possible that helped aggravate his shoulder. New York already had a big lead at the time, so it seemed more precautionary than anything initially. Terry Collins did say Cespedes was having trouble raising his arm, so this is a story we’ll be hearing a lot about between now and World Series Game 1 on Tuesday.
• The Cubs World Series drought continues. They still haven’t won a Series since 1908 and haven’t appeared in one since 1945. That’s obviously a disappointment for the organization and the fans, and will no doubt make the headlines. However, this still looks like a team built for long term success. Once that disappointment wears off, the excitement should build again.
For the Mets, it’s celebration time and then a few days off as they wait to see where they’ll be playing Game 1 of the World Series on Tuesday. The win in Game 4 is a big one for New York, as it will allow Terry Collins to set his rotation as he sees fit for the World Series. Not needing Matt Harvey twice in the NLCS should almost guarantee he’ll be available twice as well.
As for the Cubs, there’s time to reflect on a wonderful season and look ahead to what promises to be an exciting future.
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Mark Townsend is a writer for Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter! Follow @Townie813
