Mets closer Jeurys Familia pitched around a one-out single by Anthony Rizzo in the top of the ninth inning Sunday to close out the Mets' 4-1 win against the Cubs in Game 2 of the NL Championship Series.
Noah Syndergaard started the game for New York and didn't disappoint. But it was second baseman Daniel Murphy who played the hero once-again when he hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the first inning.
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Murphy finished the game 2 for 3 with a walk and two RBIs. David Wright and Yoenis Cespedes added an RBI apiece.
The Cubs now trail 0-2 as the series heads to Chicago.
Here are our five takeaways from Game 2:
1. Daniel Murphy is one clutch dude. It didn't take long for Murphy — the postseason's hottest hitter — to make his mark on the game. After bashing home runs in his three previous playoff games, including a solo shot in Game 5 of the NLDS, Murphy stepped up to the plate in the first inning and sent a Jake Arrieta offering into the right-field seats.
The blast was Murphy's fifth of the playoffs, which set the team record for most homers in a single postseason and tied a Mets career postseason record. By homering in his fourth straight postseason game, Murphy also set a Mets franchise record. The Mets second baseman hit a respectable .281 with 14 home runs and 73 RBIs during the regular season, but an even brighter light has switched on for him in the playoffs.
2. Arrieta struggled, again. Some will blame the cold weather but it's possible all those scoreless innings finally got to the Cubs ace. Heading into the NLDS, Arrieta had only given up two earned runs in 10 starts since Aug. 20. But the 22-game winner — in the regular season — showed a chink in his armor against the Cardinals when he allowed four earned runs in 5 2/3 innings.
Many people thought that start was an anomaly, but Arrieta struggled right out of the gate Sunday. Arrieta gave up a leadoff single to Curtis Granderson, then a double to David Wright, scoring Granderson. Then, Murphy made him pay with a two-run shot just around the right field foul pole.
The Cubs had earned wins in Arrieta's past 15 starts heading into the game, but the NL Cy Young candidate gave up four earned runs in just five innings Sunday, handing the Cubs their first loss in one of his starts since July 25 against the Phillies.
3. Noah Syndergaard continues to impress. Despite being a 23-year-old rookie, Syndergaard has shown poise and composure beyond his years this postseason. He impressed in his first career playoff start in the NLDS, then showed his versatility with a clutch inning of relief in a crucial Game 5.
But Syndergaard's finest achievement in his budding MLB career came Sunday when he outdueled Arrieta to win his first playoff game. Syndergaard was consistently hitting 97 mph or better on the radar gun, and wasn't perturbed by the cold weather. He lasted 5 2/3 innings, giving up just one run on three hits, while striking out nine. Royals manager Ned Yost may have compared his trio of star pitchers to Hall of Famers Tom Glavine, Greg Maddux and John Smoltz, but Jacob deGrom, Syndergaard and Matt Harvey look more likely to follow in their illustrious footsteps.
4. The Mets are legit. We only bring this up because throughout the regular season, and even heading into the NLCS, it felt like the Mets were a good team but not a great team. Sure, they have the best young pitching staff in the majors, but their lineup struggled to consistently produce and the bullpen was problematic at times. Yet, through seven postseason games, one thing is abundantly clear: The Mets are here to stay, and a trip to the World Series — the franchise's first since 2000 — is just two wins away.
5. The Cubs' bats have cooled off with the weather. Temperatures have struggled to reach 50 degrees in New York through the first two games of the series, and the Cubs — who should be used to cold weather — have cooled off, too. After hitting 12 home runs through their first five games in the postseason, Chicago has hit just one in the first two games in this series — a solo shot by Kyle Schwarber in Game 1.
Sunday, the Cubs managed just four hits and one run. Dexter Fowler and Kris Bryant split the hits with two apiece, but the Cubs need guys like Jorge Soler, Anthony Rizzo and Starlin Castro to produce like they did last series if they're going to make a comeback.
What's Next: Game 3, Tuesday, Oct. 20, 8:07 ET on TBS — Jacob deGrom (14-8, 2.54 ERA in regular season) has a chance to take the Mets one win away from the World Series. He'll face Kyle Hendricks (8-7, 3.95 ERA), who has made just one start so far this postseason.