Remembering Mets History (2015) Mets Sweep NLCS Head to World Series

Wednesday October 21st, 2015: October 21st, 2015: NLCS Game #4- Wrigley Field, Chicago: With three games to nothing series lead, Terry Collins Mets were looking for the sweep to advance to the 2015 World Series. 

The Mets had the hottest hitter in post season history- Daniel Murphy looking to break the post season consecutive HR record. They also had another fine young pitcher ready to make a start.

Steven Matz who had come up in June going 4-0 with a 2.27 ERA in six starts on the regular season. In the NLDS he was the Game #4 loser to Clayton Kershaw.

The Cubs manager Joe Maddon sent Jason Hammel (10-7 / 3.74 ERA / 172 Ks) to get the Cubs first win. Hammel got no decision in the Game #4 NLDS win over the Cardinals.

In the top of the 1st, Curtis Granderson led off the game with a line drive base hit to left field. Next David Wright struck out & then Daniel Murphy popped out to third base. With two down, Granderson eventually stole second base. Next, Yoenis Cespedes drew a walk putting two men on for Lucas Duda.

Duda had hit 27 HRs during the regular season but had been slumping throughout the playoffs. He was batting .125 (3-24) setting a new post season strike out record with 13 strike outs. The long overdue Duda cracked a HR into the center field bleachers quickly putting the Mets up 3-0.

The crowd at Wrigley Field went quiet & although they put their heart into it at certain times during the rest of the night, most of the life was sucked out of them.

Then before Mets fans could catch their breath after celebrating & realize what was happening, the next Mets batter Travis d'Arnaud hit a solo HR of his making it 4-0 Mets.

Mets Trivia: The back-to-back HRs by Duda & d'Arnaud were the first Mets post season back-to-back HRs, since Darryl Strawberry & Kevin McReynolds in the 1988 NLCS against the Dodgers.

The Mets sent nine men to the plate in the 1st inning, scoring four runs with four hits, a walk & hit by pitch., never looking back.

In the top of the 2nd, with one out David Wright drew a walk. Then Daniel Murphy singled into
left field. With two outs Lucas Duda came up & lined a bullet to the right field wall. Wright & Murph both scored making it 6-0 Mets.

Duda Ties Mets Post Season Single Game RBI Record: In his first two at bats in this game, Lucas Duda tied a Mets franchise record with five RBIs in a post season game. Rusty Staub (1973 World Series) Edgardo Alfonzo (1999 NLDS) Carlos Delgado (2006 NLCS) & Curtis Granderson (2015 NLDS).

Quotes- Lucas Duda: "As I've said all post season, it's not about personal stats, it's about winning when you get to this part of the season. I was fortunate enough to be able to contribute today & I'm happy we got the win".

Note: In the 2nd inning, Yoenis Cespedes was taken out of the game with sore shoulder.

Mets Haunt the Cubs World Series Hopes Again: The Mets out played The Cubs in all areas of
the game in the series sweep. Maybe it was the "Curse of the Billy Goat" who's name happened to be Murphy, or a return of the 1969 black cat who came out of the Shea Stadium stands peering into the Cubbies dugout.

Cubs manager Joe Maddon would go through seven pitchers on the night, Hamel went 1.1 innings giving up five runs on four hits, with two HRs. Travis Wood then gave up another run in 1.2 innings. Clayton Richard, Trevor Cahill, Pedro Strop, Fernando Rodney & Hector Rondon all made appearances. 

On the mound for New York, the Mets young starter, Steven Matz had a fine outing as he went into the 5th inning, allowing one run, on four hits, two walks & four strike outs. 

In the 5th inning, Matz was relieved by Bartolo Colon, who would pitch 1.1 scoreless innings earning the NLCS victory.

Trivia: With that victory Bartolo Colon made history, by having the longest span between post season wins, 14 seasons. His last win came in the 2001 ALDS over the Seate Mariners.  

Up to that point in his career Colon was 3-4 with a save & a 3.68 ERA in 14 post season games.

In the bottom of the 7th, Addison Reed had an easy three up three down inning.

Murph Hits Record Setting Sixth Straight Post Season HR: In the top of the 8th inning, with two outs David Wright drew a walk.

Then another piece of Mets & post season history was made. Daniel Murphy connected for a two run-HR off Fernando Rodney. 

It was the sixth straight post season game Murphy had homered in, setting a post season record never accomplished before. Overall, it was Murphy's seventh HR of the post season, in just nine games.

NLCS- MVP: Thru the NLDS & NLCS Murphy was batting .421 with 16 hits, 7 HRs two doubles 11 runs scored & 11 RBIs for a 1.026 OPS in nine games.

Quotes: Mets Broadcaster Howie Rose: "You cannot believe what has become of Daniel Murphy".

In the bottom of the 8th, Tyler Clippard had a shaky inning, serving up a two run HR to Kris Bryant making it an 8-3 Mets lead. After an uneventful top of the 9th, it was onto the final three outs in the bottom of the 9th.

It was once again "Familia Time". Mets closer, Jeurys Familia had led the NL in saves setting a franchise record with 65 saves. In the 2015 post season, Familia would not allow a run in 9.2 innings collecting five saves.

Familia got Chris Coghlan & Tommy La Stella to both ground out for the first two outs. He then walked Miguel Montero, just his second post season walk. 

Then Familia struck out Dexter Fowler looking at a third strike. Familia dropped to his knees & was greeted by catcher Travis d'Arnaud embracing in victory. The rest of the Mets team piled on to the field & celebrated winning the National League Pennant.

Quotes David Wright: "Having gotten so close nine years ago, you understand how special this is. I think if you've never tasted this before, you maybe don't understand just what it takes to get to the World Series. I have a greater understanding & greater appreciation for this having narrowly missed it & then having taken steps back that we've gone thru."

NLCS Notes: The Mets won the game 8-3 with 11 hits on no errors. In the NLCS the Mets scored 21 runs with 35 hits & seven HRs. Mets pitchers held the Cubs to a .164 batting average, scoring eight runs on 21 hits.

Terry Collins managed to squeeze 12 position players in the game tonight, everyone but backup catcher Kevin Plawecki & reserve infielder Matt Reynolds who has never played a major league game.

In Mets history, they were now 5-3 in the NLCS &were heading to their fifth World Series. The Mets have beaten the Atlanta Braves (1969) Cincinnati Reds (1973) Houston Astros (1986) St. Louis Cardinals (2000) & now the Chicago Cubs (2015) in the NLCS. In the Fall Classic they are 2-2.