Post-game: Cubs 5, Mets 4

Chris Capuano pitched a great game and Jason Bay ripped a clutch go-ahead base hit, but the Mets still couldn?t manage to defeat the Chicago Cubs yesterday afternoon. After the Mets rallied from a three run deficit to take a 4-3 lead into the 9th, Chicago went ahead and rallied right back against Bobby Parnell and company to take a 5-4 lead that would become the final score.
The 9th inning Cubbie comeback was sparked by a David Wright error before September call up Bryan LaHair doubled to put the tying and go-ahead runs in scoring position. Parnell didn?t panic, though, and got a comebacker from Starlin Castro and a strikeout of Reed Johnson to give Mets fans some hope. However, the next batter, veteran third baseman Aramis Ramirez, slashed a single through the right side of the infield to score both runners and give the Cubs the lead.

Starter Chris Capuano was solid for the Mets, lasting seven innings while throwing six strikeouts and just one walk. Two Cubs runs were scored with Capuano on the mound, although they weren?t necessarily his fault. In the first, Jose Reyes failed to snag Jeff Baker?s two-out line drive to let the first run score. Later, in the fifth inning, Reyes misplayed a Reed Johnson ground ball with one out and runners on the corners. Again, a Chicago run scored, but it appeared unlikely that Reyes would have been able to start the potential inning ending double play even had he fielded the ball cleanly.
Regardless of whose fault the runs were, the main takeaway is that despite a handful of amazing plays, Reyes? defense has been decidedly less than elite this season. I feel like Reyes? defense often take a back seat to offense and injury concerns, but the power of glove is an important factor when deciding on how much money should be offered to the upcoming free agent this winter.
Chicago?s starter, Randy Wells, shut out the Mets for the first seven innings before becoming unraveled in the 8th. Willie Harris led off with a walk and Jose Reyes ripped a double to right field for the first Mets run. That was enough to convince manager Mike Quade to lift Wells from the game with the Cubs still leading 3-1. However, reliever Kerry Wood entered and was unable to hold the Mets down.
Ruben Tejada singled to put Reyes on third, and after a Lucas Duda strikeout, David Wright went the other way with his own single to score Reyes and put the tying run on third base. Angel Pagan would go down swinging for the second out of the inning, but then Jason Bay came up huge. David Wright stole second base to get the go-ahead run in scoring position right before Bay hit a line drive single to give the Mets a short-lived 4-3 lead.
Next up for the Metsies is a Sunday night showdown with these very same Cubs. Miguel Batista will be pitching against Matt Garza. Game time is set for 8:05 PM, but I?m pretty sure ESPN will be televising the pre-game 9/11 remembrance ceremonies around 7:30, so be sure to check that out if you don?t attend the game.

Source: http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/post_game_cubs_5_mets_4/6691411

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