Mets vs Cubs Recap: Cubs Clinch 12-4 Win in High-Octane Opener

The New York Mets arrived at Wrigley Field hoping to bounce back after losing to the Dodgers 8-2 the night before. However, the Chicago Cubs came ready to play from the first pitch. Edward Cabrera took the mound for Chicago while Kodai Senga started for New York. The Cubs wasted no time striking. In the bottom of the first inning, Suzuki singled to right field, bringing in Busch. Then Ballesteros crushed a home run over the left field wall, traveling 365 feet with an exit velocity of 96 mph. Suddenly, the Cubs led 4-0 before the Mets even recorded an out. New York's defense struggled early, and Chicago's aggressive approach put immediate pressure on Senga's pitching.

Although the Mets trailed badly, they showed some resilience by scoring three runs in the second inning. Semien doubled to left field for the Cubs, driving in Alvarez. Then Taylor singled to center, scoring two more runs. The Cubs answered back with power when Hoerner blasted a home run 392 feet over the left field wall, extending Chicago's lead to 6-3. The game stayed relatively quiet until the fourth inning, when a fielding error by Baty at first base allowed Swanson to score. By that point, the Cubs had built a commanding 7-3 lead. Throughout the middle innings, both teams continued competing, yet the Cubs' early explosion made their advantage nearly impossible to overcome. The Mets' pitching struggled to contain Chicago's hot lineup.

The seventh inning became the turning point when the Cubs erupted for three more runs. A wild pitch by Manaea allowed Shaw to score, then another wild pitch moved runners into scoring position. Following that chaos, Swanson hit a sacrifice fly, and the Cubs kept piling on. In the eighth inning, Happ delivered the final blow with a massive home run traveling 411 feet that scored two more runs. The ball soared majestically over the left field wall with an exit velocity of 106 mph. Meanwhile, the Mets managed only one run in the eighth when Alvarez singled home Lindor. When the dust settled, Chicago dominated 12-4. The Cubs improved to 10-9, riding a three-game winning streak, while the Mets dropped to 7-13 with nine consecutive losses. Chicago's powerful lineup simply overwhelmed New York's pitching staff.