Mets fall to Cubs in extra innings for their 11th straight loss
The Mets' Bo Bichette strikes out swinging during the first inning of a game against the Chicago Cubs in Chicago on Sunday. Credit: AP/Nam Y. Huh
CHICAGO — Nico Hoerner hit a sacrifice fly off Craig Kimbrel in the 10th inning, and the Chicago Cubs sent the Mets to their 11th consecutive loss by rallying for a 2-1 victory Sunday.
Pinch-hitter and former Met Michael Conforto tied it for Chicago in the ninth with an RBI double off closer Devin Williams.
Pete Crow-Armstrong — a former Mets prospect — opened the 10th on second as the Cubs' automatic runner. Dansby Swanson fouled off two bunt attempts before Kimbrel (0-1) threw a wild pitch, moving Crow-Armstrong to third.
After Swanson struck out swinging, Hoerner lofted a flyball to right and Crow-Armstrong scored easily.
Caleb Thielbar (1-1) worked a scoreless 10th for Chicago, which posted its season-high fifth straight win.
MJ Melendez homered for the Mets, who finished with six hits. David Peterson pitched 3 2/3 scoreless innings of bulk relief after manager Carlos Mendoza decided to go with Tobias Myers as an opener.
It’s the longest losing streak for the Mets since they also dropped 11 in a row from Aug. 28 to Sept. 8 in 2004. They have been outscored 62-19 during the slide, and they are averaging just 2.9 runs over 17 games in April.
The Cubs rallied in the ninth against Williams. Ian Happ hit a leadoff single and pinch-runner Scott Kingery scored from first on Conforto's one-out double into the right-field corner against his former team, tying it at 1. Conforto was stranded when Williams struck out Carson Kelly and Crow-Armstrong, both swinging.
Melendez began the fifth with a drive to right-center on a full-count fastball from Javier Assad. It was his first homer since he was recalled from Triple-A Syracuse on Wednesday.
Chicago had at least one baserunner in each of the first seven innings.
Crow-Armstrong hit a leadoff triple in the third, but Peterson retired Swanson on a grounder to third before Hoerner lined to second for an inning-ending double play.
Following an off day, Nolan McLean (1-1, 2.28 ERA) starts Tuesday night for the Mets against Minnesota in the opener of a nine-game homestand. RHP Mick Abel (1-2, 3.98) goes for the Twins.
