CHICAGO — Jake Arrieta delivered. Eric Sogard scored on a daring dash. Jason Heyward set up another run with a nifty slide.Arrieta pitched five effective innings Tuesday and Craig Kimbrel escaped a jam in the ninth, sending the Cubs to a 3-1 victory over the Mets.Arrieta allowed one run and three hits, struck out four and walked three. Wearing short sleeves on a cool, clear evening — the game-time temperature was 36 degrees — he also contributed to two runs at the plate.
The Cubs had just four hits and struck out 12 times, including four for Javier Báez. Hampered by early offensive trouble, the reigning NL Central champions have won just three of their last nine games.J.D. Davis homered for New York, but also committed two throwing errors at third base — including one that brought home Chicago's first run. The Mets had won five of six.
Second-year Mets manager Luis Rojas also was thrown out by Libka after Michael Conforto struck out looking in the sixth. It was the first career ejection for Rojas. With one out and the bases loaded, Kimbrel struck out Brandon Nimmo and retired Francisco Lindor on a bouncer to first.