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New York Mets: Matt Harvey shines in NLCS Game 1 win against Chicago Cubs

By Nick Ziegler

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In Game 1 of the NLCS, the New York Mets were able to defend their home field with a win against the Chicago Cubs on a cold Saturday night.

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The Mets were first the first team to strike in the NLCS, as Daniel Murphy carried his hot hitting from the NLDS into the NLCS. Murphy hit his fourth home run of the postseason, as he added Jon Lester to the list of All-Star pitchers that he has gotten the best of in the postseason.

In the fifth inning, the Cubs’ offense would finally make some noise in Game 1. After being sharp through four innings, Matt Harvey hit Cubs’ first baseman Anthony Rizzo to lead off the fifth inning. Starlin Castro would then hit a double over the head of Mets’ center fielder Juan Lagares who has a reputation of playing very shallow. Rizzo was able to score on the RBI double from Castro to tie the game.

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After a groundout by Jorge Soler, Javier Baez would hit a single into left field, but the arm of Yoenis Cespedes saved the Mets, as he was able to gun down Castro at the plate. With David Ross and Lester as the next two batters, it wasn’t the worst move in the world to challenge Cespedes despite his good reputation as a thrower.

The Mets would answer right back in the bottom of the fifth inning, as back-to-back base hits by Wilmer Flores and Lagares would set the Mets up with two runners on and just one out. A bunt by Harvey wouldn’t get Flores to third, as the Cubs were able to get the lead runner. In a very important at-bat, Curtis Granderson had an RBI single to score Lagares and get the lead back for the Mets.

After regaining the lead in the bottom half of the fifth inning, Harvey would have an important clean inning for the Mets in the sixth. The inning didn’t come pain-free for Harvey, as he was drilled by a line drive in the shoulder/lat area, but was still able to make the play at first base.

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In the sixth inning, Travis d’Arnaud would extend the Mets’ lead with a deep shot into center field. d’Arnaud wanted to raise the apple in center field so much that he drilled it with his home run ball on a very cool play in the game.

The Mets would play some small ball in the seventh inning to add their fourth run of the game, as Lagares got things started with a lead-off base hit. A sac-bunt by Harvey moved Lagares to second, and then Lagares would steal third off of Lester with Granderson batting. Granderson has been excellent this season in getting runners in from third with less than two outs and this time was no different. A sac-fly to left field scored Lagares despite a great throw from Kyle Schwarber on the play.

After getting the first two outs in the eighth inning, Harvey would allow a home run to Schwarber which was his fourth of the postseason, and made it a 4-2 game. The home run allowed to Schwarber was also the final batter that Harvey faced, as he pitched a great 7.2 innings for the Mets.

The Mets then turned to their closer Jeurys Familia in the eighth and ninth inning to get a four-out save. Familia did allow base runners in both innings, but he was able to get the save for the Mets with a great play by Murphy to end it.

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