Jul 2, 2015; New York City, NY, USA; Chicago Cubs right fielder Mike Baxter (29) high fives Chicago Cubs third baseman Jonathan Herrera (19) after Herrera's two-run home run against the New York Mets during the sixth inning at Citi Field. Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
NEW YORK — Right-hander Jake Arrieta threw eight strong innings Thursday and third baseman Jonathan Herrera hit a two-run homer and finished with three RBIs as the Chicago Cubs completed a three-game sweep of the New York Mets with a 6-1 victory at Citi Field.
The Cubs (42-35) won all seven games this season against the Mets, the first time Chicago has swept New York in a season. Chicago won four in a row against the Mets at Wrigley Field, May 11-14.
The Mets (40-40) scored just one run in 29 innings in being swept at home for the first time since Aug. 12-14, 2014, by the Washington Nationals. New York has scored two runs or fewer in 12 of its last 14 games.
Arrieta allowed one run on five hits and no walks while striking out seven. He has allowed just two runs in his last three starts, a 24-inning stretch in which he has lowered his ERA from 3.40 to 2.80.
The Cubs took a 1-0 lead in the second, when left fielder Chris Coghlan drew a leadoff walk, went to third on a one-out single by center fielder Chris Denorfia and scored when Herrera perfectly executed a safety squeeze.
The Mets tied the game in the bottom of the third, when right-handed pitcher Jacob deGrom doubled with one out and scored on right fielder Curtis Granderson’s two-out double.
The Cubs took the lead for good in the fifth, when shortstop Starlin Castro (2-for-5) beat out an infield single with one out and raced to second when the throw from third baseman Daniel Murphy sailed into foul territory. First baseman Anthony Rizzo followed with an RBI single to shallow left.
Cubs right fielder Mike Baxter led off the sixth with a single and scored one out later, when Herrera homered just beyond the reach of Granderson.
Catcher Miguel Montero (2-for-5) added a two-run homer in the ninth.
DeGrom (8-6) allowed four runs (three earned) on seven hits and two walks while striking out two over 5 1/3 innings. He entered Thursday with a 1.23 ERA in his previous eight starts.
NOTES: Masanori Murakami, the first native of Japan to play in the majors, threw out the first pitch. Mets RHP Jacob deGrom shook Murakami’s hand before Murakami stepped onto the mound. … Mets LF Michael Cuddyer (left knee) was unavailable for a second straight game. Manager Terry Collins said the Mets would have to consider a disabled list stint if Cuddyer, who had a cortisone shot Wednesday, isn’t better in a couple of days. … Collins rejiggered the Mets’ moribund lineup by batting CF Darrell Ceciliani second for the first time as a big-leaguer and playing IF Eric Campbell in left field for the first time this season. … Cubs 3B Kris Bryant didn’t start for the first time since he was promoted to the majors April 17. … Cubs manager Joe Maddon said RHP Donn Roach will start Saturday. It will be his second start in place of injured LHP Tsuyoshi Wada.
