Mets starter Matt Harvey pitched four perfect innings to begin Game 1 of the NLCS against the Cubs, but faltered in the fifth inning. After getting ahead 0-2 on Anthony Rizzo, Harvey plunked him with a fastball. Starlin Castro followed up with a double over the head of center fielder Juan Lagares to bring Rizzo home.
Jorge Soler grounded out for the first out of the inning. The next batter, Javier Baez, ripped a ground ball single to left field. Cubs third base coach Gary Jones waved Castro around, mistakenly, as Yoenis Cespedes fired a one-hopper to catcher Travis d’Arnaud. The throw was a bit off-line, but the tag was still applied easily. Baez stole second and advanced on a throwing error by d’Arnaud, and David Ross was intentionally walked so Harvey could face pitcher Jon Lester. Lester, as expected, struck out to end the inning.
Harvey has allowed the one run on two hits and a walk with seven strikeouts, throwing 61 pitches. Lester has allowed a run on two hits with a walk and three strikeouts, tossing 63 pitches.