With their 5-2 victory over the Chicago Cubs in Game 3 of the NLCS, the New York Mets are now just one game away from the World Series.
New York Mets 5 (3-0)
Chicago Cubs 2 (0-3)
Win: Jacob deGrom (3-0)
Loss: Trevor Cahill (0-1)
Save: Jeurys Familia (3)
Full Game Box Score
Game 3 – Mets lead NLCS 3-0
Wrigley Field, Chicago, Illinois
By Robby Sabo
At this point it’s like clockwork. Jacob deGrom starts a playoff game, struggles early on, but recovers. More than recovering, the 2015 MLB All-Star gains strength as the game goes along.
Game 3 of the NLCS was no exception.
deGrom went seven strong surrendering only two runs, four hits and striking out seven over 100 pitches. It was his pitching during the middle of the game that allowed the Mets offense to string along five runs and take Game 3 against the Chicago Cubs by the final of 5-2.
.@Mets on cusp of a #WorldSeries berth: https://t.co/gPEv2fXZzL #OwnOctober pic.twitter.com/B370Mch8zD
— MLB (@MLB) October 21, 2015
Another impressive performance for Jacob deGrom on the big stage. #deGrominant pic.twitter.com/sOY3igNXka
— New York Mets (@Mets) October 21, 2015
The only word to describe a Mets playoff game without bringing up the name Daniel Murphy is blasphemy. Fortunately, Murphy proved he’s living in another stratosphere on this night as well. He finished 2-for-5 with a solo home run in the third inning against Chicago starter Kyle Hendricks which broke a 1-1 tie.
This was Murphy’s sixth home run of these playoffs as he tied the MLB record for homering in five consecutive postseason games.
The best hitter on the planet right now, Daniel Murphy. pic.twitter.com/vodAVSJYwy
— Joe Giglio (@JoeGiglioSports) October 21, 2015
HE DID IT AGAIN!!!!! HOME RUN DANIEL MURPHY!!!!! pic.twitter.com/DoMb75iOcn
— New York Mets (@Mets) October 21, 2015
David Wright came to play with his hitting shoes on. He collected three hits on the night including one in the first inning to score the game’s first run. The other star on the night for the Metsies came in the form of Yoenis Cespedes. Like Wright, the Cuban import also collected three hits (driving in two).
YO! David Wright scores on the fly ball by Cespedes. @Mets take the 4-2 lead. pic.twitter.com/cgFGW07S0R
— Baseball Tonight (@BBTN) October 21, 2015
The only anxious moment all game for New York came in the top of the sixth. With Michael Conforto at the dish and Cespedes on third, the former struck out for the final out of the inning. However, Miguel Montero couldn’t handle the Trevor Cahill pitch and it went to the backstop. This allowed Cespedes to come in with the game-winning run.
One batter later, Wilmer Flores hit a hot-shot to right field. Jorge Soler misplayed the ball and it rolled to the wall. This would’ve allowed Conforto to crawl home under normal circumstances, but the ball went under the Ivy and the automatic ground-rule double play was in effect.
Conforto was placed on third and deGrom struck out to end the inning. The Mets bullpen would have to do work, and they did.
Tyler Clippard came on in the eighth to pitch a shutout inning and Jeurys Familia picked up his third save of the postseason in one of the cleanest innings you’ll ever lay eyes on.
With the Mets now owning a stranglehold on the series (3-0), they’ll send rookie Steven Matz to the mound in Game 4, on Wednesday night, in hopes to clinch the National League Pennant.
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