From breathtaking challenges to history to spine-chilling disappointments.
The Mets lost 3-1 to the Cubs at Citi Field on Monday night, pitching a no-hitter, then taking the lead and losing the game in brutal eighth and ninth innings.
Carlos Mendoza’s group (14 wins, 14 losses) lost their second straight series, but this one started with some intriguing drama and then suddenly ended in disappointment.
A crowd of 25,046 watched every pitch live as Luis Severino’s no-hitter went into the eighth inning. Minutes later, Cubs fans’ victory chants echoed through the quiet park.
“Things happen quickly, that’s the way baseball works,” Brandon Nimmo said of the emotional swings. “But to go from potentially having a no-hitter and winning the ballgame in a very exciting way to being down two runs. … It’s tough.”
The Cubs lost the lead in the dramatic 8th inning with a no-hitter, but won in the 9th inning.
It wasn’t enough that Severino pitched brilliantly, with one hit and one soft run in eight innings. The Mets’ only score was a home run off Jameson Taillon’s fourth pitch. Otherwise, the Mets went 7¹/3 shutout innings, and the Mets turned to Edwin Diaz to defend the tie game.
In the 9th inning, former Yankees player Mike Tuchman hit a double. With two outs, Diaz was up 3-1 on Christopher Morrell, who benefited from a four-seamer that appeared to be in the strike zone, but was ruled a ball.
Diaz pitched on the second night of the back-to-back, and although he hasn’t reached his top velocity yet, he threw a fastball that clocked in at 97 mph.
Morrell hit the winning home run into the left field seats.
Immediately after the no-hitter, so did the game.
“I respect him. He did a great job,” Diaz said of Severino. “That’s my responsibility today.”
Pete Alonso and Jeff McNeil issued walks to provide the winning run in the ninth inning. But Chicago closer Hector Nellis got away with striking out DJ Stewart and Brett Batty.
The Mets had only four total hits and had a runner in scoring position in just two at-bats. The best chance to score after the first inning may have been Nimmo’s drive deep to left field in the eighth inning. Nimmo’s fly ball fell a few feet short of a two-run shot that gave the Mets back the lead.
Frustrated, he took off his helmet – a rare sight for Nemo – as he rounded to first base.
“I thought I was able to contribute to winning the game there,” Nimmo said.
However, this game was supposed to be won by the skill with the club, not the bat. For much of the match, it felt as if Severino could take out Johan Santana.
Severino pitched a no-hitter until the eighth inning and said with a laugh that he believed he had a chance for something special “from the first pitch of the game.”
He was efficient and methodical, pinpoint rather than overwhelming, getting 21 outs before the Cubs got a peek.
In the eighth inning, Severino walked Michael Busch and fell short of history against Dansby Swanson, who sent a broken bat liner to center field for a clean hit, earning Severino a standing ovation. .
With no outs on first and second base, Matt Mervis hit a sharp grounder to Alonso, who tried to start a double play, but Severino covered first base.
Marvis broke the throw and hit Severino’s arm on the way down, but Severino shook off the play and returned to the mound.
With one out and a runner on the corner, Severino got what he wanted. Nick Madrigal hit a ground ball to third base, where Joey Wendle came off to play defense.
Wendle could have tried to get an out at home, but he tried to hit a double play to end the inning, but the ball was too soft and the Mets couldn’t make it in time.
Madrigal beat the fielder’s choice, tying the game at 1-1.
“At first I thought the ball might have been hit a little harder than it actually was,” Wendle said, taking responsibility and admitting that he could have taken an out at home.
The Cubs got a hit first and then broke.
And then a sudden victory.
“After a game like Sebi, he’s clearly frustrated.” [had]” Mendoza said. “But we have to prepare for tomorrow.”
