Quick start lifts Mets
Murphy’s homer sparks 3-run 1st against Arrieta
NEW YORK — During their ascent to the National League Championship Series, the Cubs spoke proudly about their ability to overcome any barrier with a blend of talented youngsters and 22-game winner Jake Arrieta.
But the Cubs must immediately become even more resourceful as they now face their most daunting challenge of a stunningly successful season.
Their resiliency was put to the test Sunday night after the Mets pounced on the once-invincible Arrieta for three runs in the first inning while the offense was overmatched by rookie Noah Syndergaard for 52⁄
3 innings in a 4-1 loss.
The Cubs, trailing 2-0 in the best-of-seven series that shifts to Wrigley Field for three games starting Tuesday night, face the prospect of not having the services of their top two pitchers — Jon Lester and Arrieta — for the next two games. But Lester and Arrieta each lost to the Mets, and the Cubs’ current problems run much deeper than their starting pitching.
Syndergaard followed Game 1 winner Matt Harvey with a fastball clocked in the high-90 mph range and mixed in enough offspeed pitches to strike out nine, including rookie slugger Kyle Schwarber three times.
As for Arrieta, the heavy workload finally might have caught up to him.
After throwing a careerhigh 229 innings during the regular season and hurling a shutout in the NL wildcard game at Pittsburgh, Arrieta has allowed eight runs in his last 102⁄ innings, one more run than he allowed in his final 12 regular-season starts.
Curtis Granderson beat a shift with his single through the right side to open the bottom of the first and David Wright ripped a pitch over the head of Dexter Fowler in center for an RBI double.
Postseason sensation Daniel Murphy missed a home run by a few feet on an 0-1 count, but two pitches later he added another chapter to his playoff heroics by hitting a two-run homer well over the rightfield fence.