Nieuwenhuis’ blast in ninth lifts Mets past Cubs
NEW YORK — For eight innings, the New York Mets made embarrassing mistakes, squandered chances and looked almost totally adrift.
That all got wiped away with a four-run bottom of the ninth.
Nieuwenhuis hit a threerun homer after Marlon Byrd got it started with a leadoff shot and the Mets salvaged what had been shaping up as another sorry afternoon, startling the Chicago Cubs 4-3 on Sunday.
“Winning is a good feeling no matter what your record,” David Wright said. “And a win is a win, no matter how it happens.”
Jeremy Hefner had another good start for the Mets, and it looked as if this one, too, would be for naught. He allowed one earned run, on a single by Alfonso Soriano, and struck out five in five innings.
“I’m happy for Kirk, happy for the team,” Hefner said. “We came in intent on winning.”
Matt Garza pitched seven scoreless innings and the Cubs scored twice on a madcap play that featured three bad throws by Mets infielders, giving Chicago a 3-0 lead.
“A win doesn’t fix all your issues,” Mets manager Terry Collins said.
The Mets had lost 10 of 12 entering the game and appeared headed for a three-game sweep at the hands of the Cubs. They also went 0 for 7 with runners in scoring position before Nieuwenhuis’ shot.
Nevertheless, “if this can’t be used as a spark, what can we do?” Collins said.
But New York came back against Carlos Marmol (2-4) in the ninth, starting with Byrd’s home run. Nieuwenhuis connected with one out.
“When you blow a save, you lost the game. It’s tough,” Marmol said.
Bobby Parnell (5-3) pitched the top of the ninth after a scoreless eighth by David Aardsma and two scoreless innings from Carlos Torres, called up from Triple-A the night before.
“Everyone’s focus is on the bullpen holding a lead,” Aardsma said. “But we have to come in and keep the team in a game, can’t give up another run. And today, because we did, the bats were able to come through in the ninth.”
Garza gave up three hits and struck out five, and was all set up for his second win in five starts this season.
The Cubs had used closer Kevin Gregg on four consecutive days and manager Dale Sveum turned to Marmol, who had been unseated as closer earlier this season.
Marmol continued to test Cubs’ fans patience by allowing a long homer to Byrd before walking Lucas Duda.
After a visit from Sveum, he pitched John Buck low and away, eventually yielding an opposite-field single. Omar Quintanilla sacrificed the runners ahead and Marmol peered into the Cubs dugout.
Marmol remained in the game, however, and Nieuwenhuis took him deep off the facing of the second deck in right field.