CHICAGO (AP) Zack Wheeler tossed seven innings of four-hit ball, Robinson Cano drove in two runs with a homer and double and the New York Mets beat the Chicago White Sox 4-0 on Thursday for their seventh straight win.
Wilson Ramos also drove in a run as the Mets completed a three-game sweep of the White Sox and won their 13th of 17 overall. New York has its longest winning streak since a nine-game run in early April 2018.
Hoping this recent hot streak turns into a payoff push, the Mets held onto Wheeler, who can become a free agent after the season, and several other trade candidates at Wednesday’s deadline. They bring a solid starting rotation into the final two months of the season that includes newcomer Marcus Stroman, acquired in a trade with Toronto on Sunday. But New York is still fourth in the NL East and would have to pass half a dozen teams to move into a wild card spot.
Chicago has dropped eight of nine and is 4-16 since the All-Star break.
Wheeler’s fastball reached 98 mph as the right-hander struck out seven and walked none in his second start after a 2+-week stint on injured list with shoulder fatigue. Wheeler (8-6) retired the first 11 hitters before Jose Abreu singled off shortstop Amed Rosario’s glove with two outs in the fourth.
Luis Avilan and Jeurys Familia completed the four-hitter.
Rookie Dylan Cease (1-4) allowed four runs, three earned, in seven innings in his fifth and longest start since joining Chicago’s rotation. The 23-year-old right-hander stuck out six and was throwing 97 mph as late as the sixth, when New York scored three times to break the game open.
Cease has lost four straight since winning his major league debut on July 3.
Cano led off the second with a solo shot just over the left-center field wall. It was his first homer since hitting three in a win over the Padres on July 23.
Cano’s double to the right-field wall with two outs in the sixth drove in Jeff McNeil to make it 2-0. Ramos’ single to right plated Pete Alonso, and Cano scored on an error by catcher Welington Castillo, who couldn’t handle right fielder Leury Garcia’s perfect throw.
NET GAIN
The White Sox are the first team to extend protective netting to the foul poles, and McNeil used it to his advantage to catch Eloy Jimenez’s foul fly down the right field line in the fifth.
McNeil ran at full speed toward the sidewall, caught the ball and left his feet as he jumped into the netting. The netting held and McNeil popped back onto the field on his feet.
TRAINER’S ROOM
White Sox: 3B Yoan Moncada was placed on the 10-day injured list with a strained right hamstring, retroactive to Wednesday. The 24-year-old left Tuesday night’s game after fielding Wilson Ramos’ grounder in the top of the first. … OF Ryan Cordell was recalled from Triple-A Charlotte
UP NEXT
Mets: New York travels to Pittsburgh for a three-game series, with Steven Matz (6-6, 4.32 ERA) facing Pittsburgh’s Trevor Williams (3-4, 4.87) on Friday.
White Sox: Ivan Nova (6-9, 5.32) takes the mound at Philadelphia against Jason Vargas (6-5, 4.01), who makes his first start since the Phillies acquired him from the Mets on Monday.
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