Remembering Mets History (2015) NLCS Game #2 Thor Shines as Murph Hits Franchise HR Record

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Sunday October 18th, 2015: NLCS Game #2- Citi Field. Terry Collins Mets were flying high after taking the 1-0 NLCS lead. 

A crowd of 44,502 filled Citi Field, on a cold fall Sunday night in New York for Game #2.

Terry Collins sent another one of his young pitching studs to the mound, as Noah Syndergaard (9-7 / 3.68 ERA / 166 Ks). 


In Game #2 of the NLDS Noah gave up three runs taking the loss. In the Mets Game #5 series clinching win, he pitched one inning of scoreless relief in the top of the 7th.

Syndergaard went up against Chicago's Cy Young winner; Jake Arrieta (22-6 / 1.77 ERA / 236 Ks)

In the NLWC game, Arrieta had pitched a five-hit shutout over the Pirates. In the NLDS he was the Game #3 winer giving up four runs to the Cardinals. He came into the NLCS with a 2.32 ERA & 20 Ks in 142 innings.





Tonight, on the mound for the Mets it was Noah Syndergaard's turn to show off his stuff. In the top of the 1st, after retiring Dexter Fowler, he struck out Kyle Schwarber & ended the inning striking out Anthony Rizzo.

In the bottom of the 1st, the Mets got to the Cubs ace right off the bat. Curtis Granderson led off with a single to right field, for his ninth hit of the post season. 

Next, David Wright hit a long double over centerfielder Dexter Fowlers head scoring the Grandy Man with the first run. It was just Wright's second hit of the post season, his first since Game #1 of the NLDS. 


Next, New York's latest post season hero, Daniel Murphy stepped in & hit a HR to right field putting the Mets up 3-0.

Daniel Murphy's Franchise Records: It was Murphy's fourth straight post season game with a HR, setting a Mets franchise record. It was his fifth HR that post season, tying Mike Piazza (2000) for another Mets post season record. 

Murph hit the five HRs in seven games, whereas it took Piazza 22 games to hit five the HRs. 

Thru the first seven post season games, Murph had ten hits, eight RBI's & seven runs scored. Murph has had one of the best seven game post season spans in MLB history, while doing it off some of that era's best pitchers.

Trivia: The last time Jake Arrieta had allowed three runs in an inning was back in July, which was also the last time he suffered a loss. Tonight, at Citi he had no idea what hit him!

In the top of the 2nd with one out, "the Grandy Man" made a leaping catch stealing a HR away from Chris Coughlan.


In the top of the 3rd, Syndergaard struck out Javier Baez & Jake Arrieta, the walked Dexter Fowler. He then struck out Schwarber for the second time to end the inning & fire up the crowd. 


In the home 3rd inning, Curtis Granderson continued his consistent solid play. He drew a walk & then stole second as well as third base. 

This on a Mets team that was last in stolen bases, during the regular season. In the first two games of the NLCS they stole four bases.

After Arrieta intentionally walked Murphy, Yoenis Cespedes singled in the hole at short stop. Granderson scampered home with his second run scored as the Mets had a 4-1 lead.

Thor then rolled through the next two innings, retiring eight in a row into the 6th inning. After Dexter Fowler singled & advanced on a wild pitch, Kris Bryant singled bringing in the Cubs first run.

Terry Collins came out & removed Syndergaard, as he exited to a huge Citi Field ovation. Noah
went 5.2 innings, allowing one run on three hits, one walk & nine strike outs.

Jonathon Niese came on to pitch, making his first post season appearance. He struck out
Anthony Rizzo to end any hope of a Chicago comeback.

Over the next two innings, the Mets got good scoreless relief efforts from, Addison Reed & Tyler Clippard leading the way for Jeurys Familia. 



In the top of the 9th, with one out, Kris Bryant reached on a single when Familia did not cover first on a bouncer to Lucas Duda. Familia got the next two outs, with Chris Coghlan grounding to first base with Familia covering this time.

It was just the second hit he allowed in this post season.  Familia closed out the Cubs & got the save.

Most Mets Post Season Saves: Jeurys Familia now has the most saves in Mets post season history (4) passing Tug McGraw, Billy Wagner & Armando Benitez.

The Mets 4-1 win gave them a commanding two nothing series lead, on their way to Wrigley Field in Chicago for Game #3 with Jacob deGrom looming for the Cubs.



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