The first inning of Wednesday night’s NLCS Game 4 couldn’t have gone much worse for the host Cubs, who entered with a 3-0 deficit in the best-of-seven series.
The visiting Mets batted around on Cubs starter Jason Hammel, scoring four runs on four hits, a walk, and a hit-by pitch. Curtis Granderson smacked a leadoff single, Yoenis Cespedes drew a base-on-balls, and then Lucas Duda hit a three-run shot to center field. Travis d’Arnaud immediately followed with a solo shot to right.
Daniel Murphy, who has homered in a record-tying five straight postseason games, actually fouled out near third base for the second out of the game.
Mets starter Steven Matz turned in a 1-2-3 in the bottom of the first inning, retiring Dexter Fowler, Jorge Soler, and Kris Bryant in order. Matz whiffed both Soler and Bryant.
New York leads 4-0, and the World Series is just 24 outs away.