Mets flaunt power with four homers in 7-2 win over Cubs

The Mets opened their six-game homestand with an early-inning power surge, clubbing four home runs in a 7-2 win over the Chicago Cubs on Friday night at Citi Field.

Here are the takeaways…

— Francisco Lindor recently became just the ninth shortstop to reach the 50-WAR threshold since 1970, and he wasted no time showcasing his elite skills in the field and at the plate. He took an infield single away from Cubs star Kyle Tucker in the top of the first by snagging an excuse-me chopper barehanded and throwing across his body for the out. Then, in the bottom half, he smacked a 0-2 fastball from Cubs starter Jameson Taillon that landed in the bullpen for his fourth leadoff home run this season. The Mets led 1-0 after one.

— Taillon entered Friday with a sharp 1.96 ERA in six career starts against the Mets, but it sure didn’t take long for the veteran right-hander’s mark to rise. He gave up another leadoff homer in the second — this time to Brett Baty, making his second straight start at third — and then proceeded to watch designated hitter Jeff McNeil bump the Mets’ lead to 3-0 witha solo shot to right. The second inning also featured a little surprise from Lindor, who changed his walk-up song to “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” for his second at-bat. The result? A swinging strikeout.

— Of the Mets’ seven knocks through three innings, six came with two strikes. But one ball in play that brought home a pair of runs in the third didn’t register as a hit. With the bases loaded and one out, Cubs shortstop Dansby Swanson botched a tailor-made double-play on a chopper from Luisangel Acuña, airmailing the throw down to first after stepping on second for the force out. The throwing error allowed Brandon Nimmo and Francisco Alvarez to score and increase the lead to 5-0. Taillon was knocked out after four innings.

— Clay Holmes finally fell victim to the long ball in the fourth, as Tucker took a 1-1 sinker deep to right-center to cut the Cubs’ deficit to four. It was the first homer allowed by the closer-turned-starter this season, and it came on his 168th batter faced. But the Mets made sure that Holmes entered the fifth with a five-run lead — Juan Soto joined the power show by crushing a solo shot to the Shea Bridge. It was the superstar slugger’s eighth homer of the season and third this week.

— Holmes appreciated the run support he received in his previous start against the Cardinals — big cushions simply weren’t handed to him as a high-leverage reliever. This time around, he limited the damage and generated massive run on his sinker, completing six solid innings of one-run ball with five strikeouts. There were a few mistakes across his season-high 93 pitches — he allowed three hits and walks apiece plus a wild pitch — but his season ERA dropped to 2.74, and he’s now produced three quality starts.

— The Mets turned to Ryne Stanek for the seventh, and he retired the Cubs in order on 11 pitches. Dedniel Núñez got the ball to start the eighth and struck out two, but he also walked a pair that created a jam. With two outs, Reed Garrett entered and neutralized the threat by getting Seiya Suzuki to fly out to left-center.

— Soto showed off his tower power in the fourth and opposite-field approach in the eighth. After Lindor reached first on an infield single and stole his fifth bag of the season, he found his way home on a line drive off Soto’s bat that narrowly avoided Swanson’s glove. The RBI knock marked Soto’s 11th multi-hit game this season. New York produced 13 total hits, and a whopping 12 of them came with two strikes.

— Jose Butto assumed the ninth and immediately fell into trouble by committing a pitch clock violation and allowing a solo homer and a single. But the right-hander regrouped by striking out three to cap off a strong night from the staff.

Game MVP: Francisco Lindor

Lindor’s glovework and power in the first inning set the tone, and his new walk-up song set social media ablaze. Only time will tell if the classic hit from Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell sticks around at Citi Field, but the Mets’ shortstop is now hitting .290 with an .848 OPS.

Highlights

What’s next

The Mets (25-14) will play the middle game of their series against the Cubs on Saturday night with first pitch scheduled for 7:15 p.m. on FOX.

Tylor Megill (3-2, 2.50 ERA) is slated to take the mound for his eighth outing of the season. Chicago has yet to announce its starter, but rookie Cade Horton is expected to make his MLB debut.

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