Lester, Chicago finish sweep despite show from Matz

NEW YORK — The Cubs practiced a risky baserunning play during spring training, one that requires optimal conditions to execute successfully. That situation presented itself in the seventh inning Sunday, and manager Joe Maddon’s club didn’t hesitate to act.

Jon Lester dominated for seven innings and Javier Baez stole home to break a scoreless tie as Chicago blanked the New York Mets 2-0, completing a four-game sweep and winning for the seventh time in eight games.

“It’s the best week of the year for us,” Maddon said.

The Mets have lost four straight and nine of 11, dropping three games under .500 for the first time this season. They scored just six runs in this series.

The two clubs were back at it on Sunday following a rainy, 14-inning marathon that took almost five hours to complete the night before.

On an unseasonably cool afternoon, both starting pitchers matched zeroes until the seventh, when the Cubs scored twice thanks to some very aggressive baserunning.

Baez and Willson Contreras led off with back-toback singles, putting runners at the corners. With Ian Happ at the plate, Chicago pulled off a daring double steal.

“This is the stuff you work on in spring training and it doesn’t happen often that the world is set up the proper way for it to occur,” Maddon said. “When it does pop, you’ve got to be prepared for it mentally.”

Mets starter Steven Matz (2-4) was unaware that Baez was breaking for the plate, stepping off and throwing to

first baseman Adrian Gonzalez in an attempt to pick off Contreras instead.

“When I was on first base and Javy gave me a sign to take a bigger lead, at that point I knew exactly

what he was thinking,” Contreras said through a translator. “So on the first pitch I did a fake steal, which I think prompted the throw over on the second pitch and it worked out.”

Said Matz: “That’s my fault.”

“I should have been more aware of that, especially

with a guy like Baez,” he said.

Gonzalez threw home, but it was too late to catch the sliding Baez, who scored easily while Contreras advanced to second.

“As soon as I got to third, I was trying to get Willson’s attention so he can get a big lead,” Baez said.

An amped-up Baez was greeted by raucous cheers and smiles in the Cubs dugout, including a big grin on the face of Lester.

“Javy never really ceases to amaze anybody,” Lester said. “I saw that happen and literally just kind of laughed. That’s all you really can do.”

Al Bello / Getty Images Steven Matz pitched well against the Cubs on Sunday, but the New York offense did not provide him support.