Offensive woes continue in Noah’s park
NEW YORK — The Cubs had few answers for rookie Noah Syndergaard on Sunday night, just like they had few for Matt Harvey on Saturday night.
Those two right- handers put the high- flying, home- run- hitting Cubs in a 2- 0 hole in the National League Championship Series.
Syndergaard took it to them with 5⅔ innings of one- run ball to lead the Mets to a 4- 1 win after Harvey dominated in a 4- 2 win in Game 1.
“When they’re hitting their spots, it’s not easy to do what you want to do when they’re doing what they want to do,’’ said Cubs first baseman and cleanup man Anthony Rizzo, who scratched out an infield single after popping out and striking out twice.
In the playoffs, when results are magnified, Rizzo’s 1- for- 6 showing with two strikeouts in two games looks like an issue. Only Dexter Fowler and Kris Bryant have two hits in the series.
The cold weather wasn’t conducive to hitting, but the Mets had to deal with it, too. The Cubs wouldn’t use it as an excuse. They seemed to be looking forward to leaving New York and returning to Wrigley Field, where warmer temperatures are expected.
“There is a long way to go,’’ Rizzo said. “Our ultimate goal is to win eight more games, theirs is to win six more. We can’t let two games beat us up, especially the way we’re capable of playing. We have to take a day off, relax, and be ready to play Tuesday.’’
The Cubs were stunned to be trailing 3- 0 to Syndergaard, who struck out nine, after Jake Arrieta gave up three runs in the first. They fell behind in the first inning in Game 1, too.
“I’d rather give them up early than late because you can get them back,’’ right fielder Chris Coghlan said. “[ Jon] Lester and Jake, I don’t know the last time in back- to- back starts they both gave up a run in the first inning.’’
Coghlan thought he had a home run in the second inning, but T. F. South and UIC product Curtis Granderson, who has been a spark plug as a leadoff man, took it away by leaping high to make a catch.
It was that kind of night for the Cubs, who scratched out five hits, including two by Bryant.
“It’s not hard at all,’’ Coghlan said of coping with their fate. “Everybody in here believes in each other. We’re one of the most talented teams, if not the most talented, but at the end of the day, it’s about execution. They’ve executed a little better than us the first two games. I’m grateful it’s a sevengame series.’’
“It’s baseball, man,’’ rookie Kyle Schwarber ( 0- for- 4, three strikeouts) said. “It’s a crazy game of ups and downs.’’