Observations: Cubs Manufacture Win Vs. Mets on Jake Arrieta Day

Observations: Cubs manufacture win vs. Mets originally appeared on NBC Sports Chicago

The Cubs beat the Mets 3-1 on Tuesday to open a three-game series at Wrigley Field. The home team improved to a 7-9 record against the 7-5 Mets.

Here are 10 observations from the game:

  1. Cubs first base coach Craig Driver was back in action Tuesday, after roughly two weeks ago testing positive for COVID-19.
  2. The Cubs scratched second baseman David Bote (upset stomach) from the starting lineup. Eric Sogard replaced him, playing second base and batting eighth.
  3. Mets outfielder Albert Almora Jr. returned to Wrigley Field for the first time since the Cubs non-tendered him in December. The Cubs played a tribute video for their 2012 first-round draft pick in between the first and second innings. He made an appearance in the ninth inning as a pinch runner.
  4. The Cubs scored their first run before recording a hit off Mets right-hander Taijuan Walker. Sogard led off the third inning with a walk. Then, Cubs pitcher Jake Arrieta put down a sacrifice bunt on an 0-2 count to move Sogard into scoring position. With two outs, Willson Contreras hit a ground ball to Mets third baseman J.D. Davis. Contreras reached first and Sogard scored on Davis’ errant throw (his first of two errors) to first.
  5.  Mets outfielder Dominic Smith had the first hit of the game, a single to left field in the fourth inning. Heyward logged the Cubs’ first hit in the bottom half of the inning.
  6. Heyward took a risk stealing second with two outs in the fourth inning, and it paid off. A deft swim move got him safely into second, and he scored on Sogard’s single to give the Cubs a 2-0 lead.
  7. Walker was replaced in the fourth inning after walking in a run. As he left the field, he gave home plate umpire John Libka a piece of his mind, perhaps sharing his thoughts on that ball-four call. Libka ejected him before he reached the dugout.
  8. The ejections continued for the Mets in the sixth inning. Michael Conforto struck out looking on a low fastball zipping in at 98 mph out of the hand of Cubs reliver Rex Brothers. The Mets dugout voiced its displeasure, and Libka tossed Mets manager Luis Rojas.
  9. Arrieta gave up one run in his outing, on Davis’ solo homer in the fifth inning. In five innings, Arrieta also struck out four and walked three. His ERA improved from 3.18 to 2.86.
  10. Cubs relievers Brothers, Brandon Workman, Andrew Chafin and Craig Kimbrel combined to throw four shutout innings. Kimbrel gave up a hit for the first time this season, a single to pinch hitter Luis Guillorme. But Kimbrel pitched out of a jam to maintain his 0.00 ERA through eight innings this season.

Next up: The Cubs have two more home games against the Mets. On Wednesday, Cubs right-hander Zach Davies is scheduled to take the mound against Mets southpaw David Peterson.

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