NEW YORK -- Say this for Daniel Murphy and the New York Mets: They have their October formula down and are sticking with it.
Murphy homered off yet another ace to provide an early cushion for Noah Syndergaard, and the Mets breezed past Jake Arrieta the Chicago Cubs 4-1 Sunday night for a 2-0 lead in a surprisingly one-sided NL Championship Series.
Power, pitching, plus some dazzling defense -- just like the Amazin' Mets of 1969.
"We've beaten some of the best the game has to offer," Mets captain David Wright said.
Baseball's most dominant pitcher since the All-Star break, Arrieta had not even settled in when Murphy homered for the fourth straight game, a two-run drive just inside the right-field pole in a three-run first inning.
"We're having a whole bunch of fun right now," said Murphy, who homered in the first inning for the second straight game and seems to have a reserved star-of-the-game seat in the interview room.
Given the quick lead on a chilly night, Syndergaard kept the bats of Chicago's young sluggers on ice with shutout ball into the sixth.
Curtis Granderson robbed Chris Coghlan of a likely home run with a leaping grab at the center-field wall, swiped a pair of bases and scored two runs for the Mets.
After beating Clayton Kershaw, Zack Greinke, Jon Lester and Arrieta, the Mets are two wins from reaching their first World Series since 2000.
New York starts Jacob deGrom, the 2014 NL Rookie of the Year, on Tuesday night at Wrigley Field. Rookie left-hander Steven Matz is set for Game 4, followed by Game 1 winner Matt Harvey on Thursday, if needed.
"They don't have the credentials that Kershaw and Greinke and Lester and Arrieta have, but they're going to be good pitchers," Mets manager Terry Collins said. "We think we can stack up with anybody."
Chicago goes with Kyle Hendricks in Game 3. If the long-downtrodden Cubs are to reach the World Series for the first time since 1945, they must first force the best-of-seven NLCS back to Citi Field next weekend.
"We're all about one-game winning streaks," Chicago manager Joe Maddon said. "I know it's psychobabble 101, but it actually works."
After homering off Kershaw, Greinke and Lester, Murphy added his fifth home run of the postseason, giving him eight RBI in seven games. He's one from matching Carlos Beltran's record of homering in five straight postseason games.
"He's about as locked in as I've seen a hitter," Wright said.
Long, blond locks flowing out the back of his cap, Syndergaard seems to be taking on a bit of Harvey's cockiness. He gained the nickname Thor, the Norse god known for fierce storms, after he tweeted a photo of himself in costume doing squats on Halloween two years ago.
Ahead of his start against the Cubs, Syndergaard changed the photo atop his Twitter page to a shot featuring lightning striking Chicago's famous Willis Tower.
Having made the first relief appearance of his big league career in Game 5 against the Dodgers, Syndergaard came out throwing darts at up to 99 mph until the sixth, when Dexter Fowler singled and scored on Kris Byrant's two-out double off the left-field wall.
"It makes pitching a lot more easy when you go out there and offense puts a three-spot on one of the best pitchers in the game right now," Syndergaard said.
Jon Niese came in and struck out Anthony Rizzo. Chicago didn't advance another runner past first.
Syndergaard allowed three hits, struck out nine and walked one. Jeurys Familia's fourth postseason save finished a five-pitcher five-hitter and sent the Cubs to consecutive losses for the first time since they dropped three in a row from Sept. 23-26. Arrieta had not lost since July 25.
It was 45 degrees at game time with an 18 mph northwest wind. Some players wore balaclavas that covered their faces, including Mets outfielder Yoenis Cespedes, who played on his 30th birthday.
Arrieta, who wore short sleeves, had not given up a first-inning run in 25 consecutive starts since May 29. With his velocity down slightly, he found himself trailing after nine pitches and down 3-0 after 13.
Granderson singled through the shift into right field for his ninth hit in 22 postseason at-bats. Wright, in a 1-for-19 playoff slide, drove a fastball on a hop off the center-field wall with Granderson running.
Murphy hit an 0-1 pitch about 10 feet to the foul side of the right-field pole, then reached down for a shin-high curveball and with a one-handed swing sent it just inside the pole. Murphy raised his right fist in triumph while rounding first base and took a curtain call after a prolonged ovation.
"I put us in a pretty big hole there at the start, one that was a little too hard to overcome," Arrieta said. "They came out pretty aggressive. Took advantage of a couple of balls elevated in the strike zone. The curveball to Murphy wasn't that bad of a pitch. I didn't do a good enough job of minimizing mistakes."
Said Maddon: "Jake wasn't as sharp as he can be, but he definitely held serve. The ambush early got us."
Granderson made his dashing defensive play in the second, leaping to get his glove to the top of the 8-foot wall just to the right of straightaway center.
"I was able to time it up, reel it in," Granderson said.
He walked leading off the third and stole second as Wright struck out. After Murphy was walked, Granderson swiped third, too -- at Murphy's suggestion. He came home when Cespedes grounded to the shortstop hole for an infield single.
"Two tough games here, but the series is not over," Arrieta said. "We feel good where we're at."
UP NEXT
Cubs: Hendricks (8-7) did not get a decision in the Division Series against St. Louis, allowing three runs and four hits in 4 2/3 innings with seven strikeouts and no walks.
Mets: DeGrom (14-8) got the wins in Games 1 and 5 against the Dodgers. He is 0-2 in three career starts against the Cubs.
DRESS CODE
The Mets stayed with their alternate blue jerseys after winning in them in Game 3 of the NL Division Series and the NLCS opener. New York lost in its traditional pinstripes in Game 4 against the Dodgers.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Murphy homered off yet another ace to provide an early cushion for Noah Syndergaard, and the Mets breezed past Jake Arrieta the Chicago Cubs 4-1 Sunday night for a 2-0 lead in a surprisingly one-sided NL Championship Series.
Power, pitching, plus some dazzling defense -- just like the Amazin' Mets of 1969.
"We've beaten some of the best the game has to offer," Mets captain David Wright said.
Baseball's most dominant pitcher since the All-Star break, Arrieta had not even settled in when Murphy homered for the fourth straight game, a two-run drive just inside the right-field pole in a three-run first inning.
"We're having a whole bunch of fun right now," said Murphy, who homered in the first inning for the second straight game and seems to have a reserved star-of-the-game seat in the interview room.
Given the quick lead on a chilly night, Syndergaard kept the bats of Chicago's young sluggers on ice with shutout ball into the sixth.
Curtis Granderson robbed Chris Coghlan of a likely home run with a leaping grab at the center-field wall, swiped a pair of bases and scored two runs for the Mets.
After beating Clayton Kershaw, Zack Greinke, Jon Lester and Arrieta, the Mets are two wins from reaching their first World Series since 2000.
New York starts Jacob deGrom, the 2014 NL Rookie of the Year, on Tuesday night at Wrigley Field. Rookie left-hander Steven Matz is set for Game 4, followed by Game 1 winner Matt Harvey on Thursday, if needed.
"They don't have the credentials that Kershaw and Greinke and Lester and Arrieta have, but they're going to be good pitchers," Mets manager Terry Collins said. "We think we can stack up with anybody."
Chicago goes with Kyle Hendricks in Game 3. If the long-downtrodden Cubs are to reach the World Series for the first time since 1945, they must first force the best-of-seven NLCS back to Citi Field next weekend.
"We're all about one-game winning streaks," Chicago manager Joe Maddon said. "I know it's psychobabble 101, but it actually works."
After homering off Kershaw, Greinke and Lester, Murphy added his fifth home run of the postseason, giving him eight RBI in seven games. He's one from matching Carlos Beltran's record of homering in five straight postseason games.
"He's about as locked in as I've seen a hitter," Wright said.
Long, blond locks flowing out the back of his cap, Syndergaard seems to be taking on a bit of Harvey's cockiness. He gained the nickname Thor, the Norse god known for fierce storms, after he tweeted a photo of himself in costume doing squats on Halloween two years ago.
Ahead of his start against the Cubs, Syndergaard changed the photo atop his Twitter page to a shot featuring lightning striking Chicago's famous Willis Tower.
Having made the first relief appearance of his big league career in Game 5 against the Dodgers, Syndergaard came out throwing darts at up to 99 mph until the sixth, when Dexter Fowler singled and scored on Kris Byrant's two-out double off the left-field wall.
"It makes pitching a lot more easy when you go out there and offense puts a three-spot on one of the best pitchers in the game right now," Syndergaard said.
Jon Niese came in and struck out Anthony Rizzo. Chicago didn't advance another runner past first.
Syndergaard allowed three hits, struck out nine and walked one. Jeurys Familia's fourth postseason save finished a five-pitcher five-hitter and sent the Cubs to consecutive losses for the first time since they dropped three in a row from Sept. 23-26. Arrieta had not lost since July 25.
It was 45 degrees at game time with an 18 mph northwest wind. Some players wore balaclavas that covered their faces, including Mets outfielder Yoenis Cespedes, who played on his 30th birthday.
Arrieta, who wore short sleeves, had not given up a first-inning run in 25 consecutive starts since May 29. With his velocity down slightly, he found himself trailing after nine pitches and down 3-0 after 13.
Granderson singled through the shift into right field for his ninth hit in 22 postseason at-bats. Wright, in a 1-for-19 playoff slide, drove a fastball on a hop off the center-field wall with Granderson running.
Murphy hit an 0-1 pitch about 10 feet to the foul side of the right-field pole, then reached down for a shin-high curveball and with a one-handed swing sent it just inside the pole. Murphy raised his right fist in triumph while rounding first base and took a curtain call after a prolonged ovation.
"I put us in a pretty big hole there at the start, one that was a little too hard to overcome," Arrieta said. "They came out pretty aggressive. Took advantage of a couple of balls elevated in the strike zone. The curveball to Murphy wasn't that bad of a pitch. I didn't do a good enough job of minimizing mistakes."
Said Maddon: "Jake wasn't as sharp as he can be, but he definitely held serve. The ambush early got us."
Granderson made his dashing defensive play in the second, leaping to get his glove to the top of the 8-foot wall just to the right of straightaway center.
"I was able to time it up, reel it in," Granderson said.
He walked leading off the third and stole second as Wright struck out. After Murphy was walked, Granderson swiped third, too -- at Murphy's suggestion. He came home when Cespedes grounded to the shortstop hole for an infield single.
"Two tough games here, but the series is not over," Arrieta said. "We feel good where we're at."
UP NEXT
Cubs: Hendricks (8-7) did not get a decision in the Division Series against St. Louis, allowing three runs and four hits in 4 2/3 innings with seven strikeouts and no walks.
Mets: DeGrom (14-8) got the wins in Games 1 and 5 against the Dodgers. He is 0-2 in three career starts against the Cubs.
DRESS CODE
The Mets stayed with their alternate blue jerseys after winning in them in Game 3 of the NL Division Series and the NLCS opener. New York lost in its traditional pinstripes in Game 4 against the Dodgers.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
8:07PM,EDT,October 18,2015
Citi Field, New York, New York
Citi Field, New York, New York
| View: Play-By-Play | Pitch-By-Pitch | Inning: All | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
| Chicago - Top of 1st | SCORE | |
|---|---|---|
| Noah Syndergaard pitching for New York | CHC | NYM |
| Fowler grounded out to second. | 0 | 0 |
| Schwarber struck out swinging. | 0 | 0 |
| Bryant singled to left. | 0 | 0 |
| Rizzo struck out swinging. | 0 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| New York - Bottom of 1st | SCORE | |
| Jake Arrieta pitching for Chicago | CHC | NYM |
| Granderson singled to right. | 0 | 0 |
| Wright doubled to deep center, Granderson scored. | 0 | 1 |
| Murphy homered to right (352 feet), Wright scored. | 0 | 3 |
| Céspedes fouled out to first. | 0 | 3 |
| Duda struck out swinging. | 0 | 3 |
| d'Arnaud struck out looking. | 0 | 3 |
| 3 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Chicago - Top of 2nd | SCORE | |
| Noah Syndergaard pitching for New York | CHC | NYM |
| Castro grounded out to third. | 0 | 3 |
| Coghlan flied out to right. | 0 | 3 |
| Montero struck out looking. | 0 | 3 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| New York - Bottom of 2nd | SCORE | |
| Jake Arrieta pitching for Chicago | CHC | NYM |
| Conforto struck out swinging. | 0 | 3 |
| Flores lined out to second. | 0 | 3 |
| Syndergaard struck out swinging. | 0 | 3 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Chicago - Top of 3rd | SCORE | |
| Noah Syndergaard pitching for New York | CHC | NYM |
| Báez struck out swinging. | 0 | 3 |
| Arrieta struck out swinging. | 0 | 3 |
| Fowler walked. | 0 | 3 |
| Schwarber struck out looking. | 0 | 3 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| New York - Bottom of 3rd | SCORE | |
| Jake Arrieta pitching for Chicago | CHC | NYM |
| Granderson walked. | 0 | 3 |
| Wright struck out swinging, Granderson stole second. | 0 | 3 |
| Murphy intentionally walked. | 0 | 3 |
| Granderson stole third. | 0 | 3 |
| Céspedes reached on infield single to shortstop, Granderson scored, Murphy to second. | 0 | 4 |
| Duda popped out to shortstop. | 0 | 4 |
| d'Arnaud grounded out to second. | 0 | 4 |
| 1 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Chicago - Top of 4th | SCORE | |
| Noah Syndergaard pitching for New York | CHC | NYM |
| Bryant flied out to center. | 0 | 4 |
| Rizzo popped out to third. | 0 | 4 |
| Castro grounded out to first. | 0 | 4 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| New York - Bottom of 4th | SCORE | |
| Jake Arrieta pitching for Chicago | CHC | NYM |
| Conforto grounded out to third. | 0 | 4 |
| Flores struck out swinging. | 0 | 4 |
| Syndergaard grounded out to second. | 0 | 4 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Chicago - Top of 5th | SCORE | |
| Noah Syndergaard pitching for New York | CHC | NYM |
| Coghlan grounded out to third. | 0 | 4 |
| Montero struck out swinging. | 0 | 4 |
| Báez struck out swinging. | 0 | 4 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| New York - Bottom of 5th | SCORE | |
| Jake Arrieta pitching for Chicago | CHC | NYM |
| Granderson grounded out to second. | 0 | 4 |
| Wright struck out looking. | 0 | 4 |
| Murphy struck out looking. | 0 | 4 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Chicago - Top of 6th | SCORE | |
| Noah Syndergaard pitching for New York | CHC | NYM |
| La Stella hit for Arrieta. | 0 | 4 |
| La Stella flied out to center. | 0 | 4 |
| Fowler singled to right. | 0 | 4 |
| Fowler to second on wild pitch by Syndergaard. | 0 | 4 |
| Schwarber struck out swinging. | 0 | 4 |
| Bryant doubled to deep left, Fowler scored. | 1 | 4 |
| Niese relieved Syndergaard. | 1 | 4 |
| Rizzo struck out swinging. | 1 | 4 |
| 1 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| New York - Bottom of 6th | SCORE | |
| Travis Wood pitching for Chicago | CHC | NYM |
| Castro at shortstop. | 1 | 4 |
| Wood relieved Arrieta. | 1 | 4 |
| La Stella at second base. | 1 | 4 |
| Céspedes flied out to right. | 1 | 4 |
| Duda struck out looking. | 1 | 4 |
| d'Arnaud fouled out to first. | 1 | 4 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Chicago - Top of 7th | SCORE | |
| Addison Reed pitching for New York | CHC | NYM |
| Reed relieved Niese. | 1 | 4 |
| Castro lined out to third. | 1 | 4 |
| Coghlan popped out to third. | 1 | 4 |
| Montero fouled out to catcher. | 1 | 4 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| New York - Bottom of 7th | SCORE | |
| Travis Wood pitching for Chicago | CHC | NYM |
| Conforto struck out looking. | 1 | 4 |
| Flores struck out looking. | 1 | 4 |
| Lagares hit for Reed. | 1 | 4 |
| Lagares struck out swinging. | 1 | 4 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Chicago - Top of 8th | SCORE | |
| Tyler Clippard pitching for New York | CHC | NYM |
| Céspedes in left field. | 1 | 4 |
| Clippard relieved Reed. | 1 | 4 |
| Lagares in center field. | 1 | 4 |
| Denorfia hit for Wood. | 1 | 4 |
| Denorfia popped out to second. | 1 | 4 |
| La Stella grounded out to first. | 1 | 4 |
| Fowler singled to center. | 1 | 4 |
| Schwarber flied out to left. | 1 | 4 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| New York - Bottom of 8th | SCORE | |
| Clayton Richard pitching for Chicago | CHC | NYM |
| Richard relieved Wood. | 1 | 4 |
| Granderson grounded out to first. | 1 | 4 |
| Wright lined out to third. | 1 | 4 |
| Murphy singled to left center. | 1 | 4 |
| Strop relieved Richard. | 1 | 4 |
| Céspedes flied out to right. | 1 | 4 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Chicago - Top of 9th | SCORE | |
| Jeurys Familia pitching for New York | CHC | NYM |
| Familia relieved Clippard. | 1 | 4 |
| Bryant flied out to right. | 1 | 4 |
| Rizzo reached on infield single to first. | 1 | 4 |
| Castro grounded out to shortstop, Rizzo to second. | 1 | 4 |
| Coghlan grounded out to first. | 1 | 4 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Chicago Cubs | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hitters | AB | R | H | RBI | BB | SO | #P | AVG | OBP | SLG |
| Fowler CF | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 20 | .286 | .375 | .286 |
| Schwarber LF | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 18 | .125 | .125 | .500 |
| Bryant 3B | 4 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 19 | .286 | .375 | .429 |
| Rizzo 1B | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 22 | .167 | .375 | .167 |
| Castro 2B-SS | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 17 | .125 | .125 | .250 |
| Coghlan RF | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 17 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
| Montero C | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 16 | .250 | .250 | .250 |
| Báez SS | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 8 | .200 | .200 | .200 |
Wood P
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
b-Denorfia PH
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
Richard P
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
Strop P
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
| Arrieta P | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 6 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
a-La Stella PH-2B
| 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
| Totals | 32 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 10 | 156 | |||
| a-flied out to center for J Arrieta in the 6th b-popped out to second for T Wood in the 8th | ||||||||||
| BATTING 2B: Bryant (1, Syndergaard) RBI: Bryant (1) 2-out RBI: Bryant Cubs RISP: 1-4 (Rizzo 0-1, Bryant 1-1, Schwarber 0-1, Coghlan 0-1) Team LOB: 5 | ||||||||||
Game Information
| Stadium | Citi Field, New York, NY |
| Attendance | 44,502 (106.2% full) - % is based on regular season capacity |
| Game Time | 3:07 |
| Weather | 45 degrees, partly cloudy |
| Wind | 18 mph |
| Umpires | Home Plate - Tim Timmons, First Base - Ted Barrett, Second Base - Paul Emmel, Third Base - Eric Cooper left - Bill Miller right - Rob Drake |
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