Chicago Cubs’ Seiya Suzuki hits an RBI single off New York Mets starting pitcher Tylor Megill in the first inning of a baseball game Saturday, June 22, 2024, in Chicago.
12:41 JST, June 23, 2024
CHICAGO (AP) — Jameson Taillon pitched seven sharp innings, Christopher Morel homered and the Chicago Cubs cooled off the New York Mets with an 8-1 victory on Saturday.
Taillon hit a season-high 10 in his first win since May 4. The right-hander allowed one run and six hits.
“It’s a day where he gave it his all,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell said.
New York averaged 6.6 runs and 10.3 hits while going 12-3 in its previous 15 games, including an 11-1 victory in the series opener on Friday. But it was kept in check by Taillon (4-3) and two relievers on a hot afternoon at Wrigley Field.
It was Taillon’s first game with double-digit strikeouts since August 4, 2021 for the New York Yankees against Baltimore.
“I’m not just trying to consciously get swings and misses,” Taillon said. “So it’s like this: if it happens, it happens. Otherwise I just keep doing myself and let it happen naturally by being in good grades and things like that.
Francisco Alvarez homered for the second straight day for New York and JD Martinez had two of the team’s seven hits. Tylor Megill (2-4) lasted just three innings in his worst start of the season.
“I just have to get better,” Megill said. “The team doesn’t deserve that, the bullpen certainly doesn’t deserve that. Overall, I just have to shoot, get outs quickly and finish hitters when I get the chance.
June 22, 2024; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Cubs outfielder Seiya Suzuki (27) is greeted after scoring against the New York Mets during the first inning at Wrigley Field.
The Cubs took control with five runs in the first inning. Morel singled for Seiya Suzuki and scored on Dansby Swanson’s double. Pete Crow-Armstrong capped the fast start with a stand-up triple into the right corner as he drove into Swanson.
Morel made it 6-0 with a 450-foot drive to center in the third. It was Morel’s team-high 14th home run.
Tomás Nido went 1-for-4 in his first start for Chicago and drove in Crow-Armstrong with a double in the sixth. The veteran catcher was designated for assignment by the Mets on June 11 and signed with the Cubs on Wednesday.
Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor playfully swiped at Nido’s glove after catching a foul tip on strike three for the final out in the fifth.
“That’s my brother. We’ve known each other since we were ten years old,” said a grinning Nido. “So it’s all fun and games.”
Mets: OF Starling Marte left in the second due to right knee soreness – a persistent problem for the 35-year-old veteran. Manager Carlos Mendoza said Marte will likely undergo some tests on Monday. …RHP Kodai Senga (capsule type) is expected to conduct batting practice on Sunday. Mendoza said Senga will throw about 20 pitches to hitters at the team’s facility in Florida. … RHP Sean Reid-Foley (shoulder impingement) was placed on the 15-day injured list and LHP Danny Young was recalled from Triple-A Syracuse.
