CHICAGO (AP) The Chicago Cubs keep rolling along, whether they’re running away with lopsided victories or squeezing out tight ones like this.
Ben Zobrist hit a bases-loaded RBI single in the 11th inning to give the Chicago Cubs a 2-1 victory over the New York Mets and their season-high seventh straight win on Wednesday in a game that was suspended the previous night because of rain.
Zobrist grounded the winning single up the middle with one out after Chicago loaded the bases against Paul Sewald (0-5). That kept the Cubs rolling after play was stopped Tuesday night with the game tied at 1-all. The finale of the three-game series began shortly after the conclusion of the suspended game.
The Cubs (78-53) moved a season-high 25 games over .500 and matched their longest streak since a seven-game run last September. They lead the majors with 42 comeback victories and have seven walk-off wins this season.
Sewald walked Javier Baez to lead off the 11th and overthrew first after fielding Victor Caratini’s sacrifice bunt, putting runners on second and third. He then intentionally walked Kyle Schwarber to load the bases before striking out Albert Almora.
Daniel Zamora came on in relief and Zobrist ended the game with a single on a 1-1 pitch, waving his arm as the ball scooted to the outfield.
”It’s a tough spot,” Mets manager Mickey Callaway said. ”He executed the pitches he wanted to and then got the ground ball. It was kind of a weaker ground ball and just kind of went right in between everybody. Two feet to the left or right, and maybe it’s a double play.”
Cole Hamels threw five scoreless innings. Jesse Chavez (5-2) got the win with a scoreless 11th, and Anthony Rizzo matched a career high with four hits.
New York’s Jacob deGrom went eight innings, allowing one run and eight hits. He struck out 10 and walked one while lowering his ERA to 1.68. He also had two hits, including an RBI single to the shortstop in the sixth.
Hamels had gone the distance in his previous outing for Chicago’s lone complete game of the season. He allowed four hits, struck out eight and walked three while lowing his ERA to 0.69 in six starts since being traded from Texas to the Cubs in late July.
Brandon Kintzler came on in the sixth and gave up a leadoff single to Todd Frazier, then walked Jay Bruce. Both runners moved up on Kevin Plawecki’s grounder before lefty Jorge De La Rosa got Brandon Nimmo to pop out.
DeGrom then hit a sharp single that shortstop Baez fielded on the outfield grass that drove in Frazier, giving New York a 1-0 lead.
Chicago tied it in the seventh when David Bote drove in Albert Almora with a sacrifice fly.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Mets: Callaway said RHP Robert Gsellman (strep throat) was available out of the bullpen in an emergency. … C Devin Mesoraco (stiff neck) was available.
Cubs: 3B Kris Bryant (left shoulder inflammation) was to play one of two games for Triple-A Iowa on Wednesday while LHP Brian Duensing (left shoulder inflammation) was also scheduled to pitch for the minor league club. … Closer Brandon Morrow (right biceps inflammation) threw off flat ground from 105 feet. … SS Addison Russell (sprained left middle finger, right shoulder inflammation) played catch.
UP NEXT
Mets: LHP Jason Vargas (4-8, 6.96) is 2-0 with a 1.59 ERA in his last two starts.
Cubs: RHP Alec Mills (0-0, 1.17 ERA) looks to build in a dominant first start for the Cubs. He held Cincinnati to one run while striking out eight in 52/3 innings.
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