Remembering Mets History (2015) NLCS Game #2: Daniel Murphy Sets Franchise Post Season HR Record as Thor Shuts Down Cubs
A crowd of 44,502 filled Citi Field, on a cold fall Sunday night in New York for Game #2.
Terry Collins sent another one of his young pitching studs to the mound, as Noah Syndergaard (9-7 / 3.68 ERA / 166 Ks).
Syndergaard went up against Chicago's Cy Young winner; Jake Arrieta (22-6 / 1.77 ERA / 236 Ks)
In the NLWC game, Arrieta had pitched a five-hit shutout over the Pirates. In the NLDS he was the Game #3 winer giving up four runs to the Cardinals. He came into the NLCS with a 2.32 ERA & 20 Ks in 142 innings.
In the top of the 1st, after retiring Dexter Fowler, he struck out Kyle Schwarber & ended the inning striking out Anthony Rizzo.
In the bottom of the 1st, the Mets got to the Cubs ace right off the bat. Curtis Granderson led off with a single to right field, for his ninth hit of the post season.
Next, David Wright hit a long double over centerfielder Dexter Fowlers head scoring the Grandy Man with the first run. It was just Wright's second hit of the post season, his first since Game #1 of the NLDS. In 16 post season games up that point in his career he had one HR with eight RBIs but was batting just .161.
Daniel Murphy's Franchise Records: It was Murphy's fourth straight post season game with a HR, setting a new Mets franchise post season record. It was Murph's fifth HR that post season, tying Mike Piazza (2000) for most Mets post seasons HRs.
Murph had hit the five HRs in a seven-game span, where Mike Piazza's five post season HRs came over 22 games.
Arrieta Trivia: The last time Jake Arrieta had allowed three runs in an inning was back in July, which was also the last time he suffered a loss. Tonight, at Citi he had no idea what hit him!
In the top of the 2nd with one out, "the Grandy Man" made a leaping catch stealing a HR away from Chris Coughlan.
In the top of the 3rd, Noah Syndergaard struck out Javier Baez & Jake Arrieta, the walked Dexter Fowler. He then struck out Kyle Schwarber for the second time to end the inning & fire up the crowd.
In the home 3rd inning, Curtis Granderson continued his consistent solid play, as he drew a walk & then stole second base & third base.
Stolen Base Trivia: The Mets had come in last in the NL in stolen bases (51) during the regular season. In the first two games of the NLCS they had stolen four bases.
After Jake Arrieta intentionally walked Daniel Murphy, Yoenis Cespedes singled in the hole at short stop. Granderson scampered home with his second run scored as the Mets now had a 4-1 lead.
Thor then rolled through the next two innings, retiring eight Cub batters in a row into the 6th inning. In the top of the 6th, after Dexter Fowler singled with Chicago's second hit of the night. He advanced on a wild pitch, then Kris Bryant singled bringing in Fowler with the Cubs first run.
Mets manager Terry Collins came out & removed Syndergaard, as he exited to a huge Citi Field ovation. Noah went 5.2 innings, allowing one run on three hits, one walk with nine strike outs.
Jonathon Niese came on to pitch, making his first post season appearance. He struck out
Anthony Rizzo to end any hope of a Chicago comeback.
Over the next two innings, the Mets got good scoreless relief efforts from, Addison Reed (7th inning) & Tyler Clippard (8th inning) leading the way for Jeurys Familia.
In the top of the 9th, with one out, Kris Bryant reached on a single when Jeurys Familia did not cover first on a bouncer to Lucas Duda. It was just the second hit Familia had allowed in this post season. Familia got the next two outs, with Chris Coghlan grounding to first base with Familia covering the bag this time. Familia closed out the Cubs & got the save.
Most Mets Post Season Saves: Jeurys Familia now had the most saves in Mets post season history (4) passing Tug McGraw, Billy Wagner & Armando Benitez.
The Mets 4-1 win gave them a commanding two nothing series lead, on their way to Wrigley Field in Chicago for Game #3 with Jacob deGrom looming for the Cubs.
