Cubs solve Mets behind Lester, Rizzo

Rookie Steven Matz took the loss, exiting after five-plus innings, and the Mets now have dropped seven of the lefty's last nine starts. Wilmer Flores thwarted Lester's shutout bid with a leadoff homer in the seventh.

MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Third inning: In the four previous meetings with the Mets this year, the Cubs did not score more than three runs in a game. They matched that in one inning. With one out in the third, Javier Baez singled, his second hit of the game, and Kris Bryant was hit by a pitch to set up Rizzo, who battled Matz in a 10-pitch at-bat. According to Statcast™, Rizzo's homer was clocked at 106.9 mph and traveled 423 feet. He now has 68 RBIs, most on the Cubs.

Hit hard: Rizzo's homer was hardly the only damage against Matz, who allowed eight hits and four runs over five-plus innings, departing after a leadoff double in the sixth. Many of those hits were well-struck, including five with exit velocities of at least 95.5 mph. Matz's ERA since June 1 ballooned to 5.12, and as a result, the Mets fell to 2-7 over his last nine starts.

Contreras' ground-rule double

NYM@CHC: Contreras hits ground-rule double into ivy

Willson Contreras smacks a ground-rule double into the ivy in left field in the bottom of the 3rd inning

Super subs: Baez made the most of his second straight start at second base for Ben Zobrist, who was given the time off for his personal All-Star break. Baez had two hits and also made a perfectly timed leap to rob Curtis Granderson of a potential hit leading off the Mets' sixth. Baez wasn't the only sub who came through as Matt Szczur, starting in right for Jason Heyward, posted his first career three-hit game.

Baez's leaping catch

NYM@CHC: Baez makes a leaping grab to rob Granderson

Javier Baez makes a nice jumping catch at second to rob Curtis Granderson of a hit in the top of the 6th inning

Natural left fielder: Shifting to left field on a quasi-permanent basis to ease pressure off his sore right quadriceps, Yoenis Cespedes saved Matz an additional run in the third inning with a rocket throw home. After Rizzo's homer, Willson Contreras hit a ground-rule double into the ivy on the left-field wall, then tried to score on Matt Szczur's single. But Cespedes' throw covered 206.7 feet, according to Statcast™, beating Contreras home by several steps. Cespedes later committed a two-base fielding error in the eighth inning, allowing Albert Almora Jr.'s RBI single to roll all the way to the fence.

Cespedes cuts down Contreras

NYM@CHC: Cespedes throws out Contreras at the plate

Yoenis Cespedes fields a ball in left field and fires a laser to the plate to throw out Willson Contreras and end the bottom of the 3rd

WHAT'S NEXT
Mets: Following an 11-day layoff to rest his tired right arm, Noah Syndergaard will return to the mound for a 7:05 p.m. ET game at Wrigley. Syndergaard has not pitched since coming out of his last start in the fifth inning due to arm fatigue, which prompted him to skip the All-Star Game as well.

Cubs: Jake Arrieta makes his first start of the second half in the second game of this three-game series. The right-hander gave up a season-high six runs on nine hits over six innings in his last outing against the Pirates July 8. He said the All-Star break helped him reset and recharge. First pitch is scheduled for 6:05 p.m. CT.

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This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

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Cubs solve Mets behind Lester, Rizzo