Written by Ian Casselberry at Bloguin
Down three games to none in the NLCS, the Chicago Cubs needed a miracle to keep their postseason run going. They didn’t get it on Wednesday night at Wrigley Field, going down to the New York Mets in an 8-3 loss that completed a four-game sweep.
The Mets are off to their first World Series since 2000. For the Cubs, their World Series drought extends past 70 years. (The team last made it to the Fall Classic in 1945, and last won a championship in 1908.)
If there was any belief among the Cubs and their fans that getting back into this series by winning a game was possible, those hopes were quickly crushed by the Mets as they jumped out to a 4-0 first-inning lead. Lucas Duda, who came into Wednesday’s NLCS Game 4 with a slash average of .125/.192/.125, hit a three-run homer to knock the wind out of Wrigley Field. Travis d’Arnaud followed up with another home run to essentially send the Cubs to the mat.
Duda also had a two-run double in the second inning to increase the Mets’ lead to 6-0 and the game was all but over. The first baseman batted 3-for-4 with that home run, a walk and five RBI in a breakout night. He was really the only hole in the Mets lineup, with manager Terry Collins sitting him in Game 1 of the series against left-hander Jon Lester. But Duda picked the best time possible to shake off his postseason struggles, practically beating the Cubs by himself.
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