Chicago, IL (Sports Network) – Blake DeWitt’s three-run homer in the sixth provided the difference, and the Cubs began a weekend series against the Mets with a 7-6 victory at Wrigley Field.
DeWitt hit his fourth home run in just 30 games with Chicago since a midseason trade with the Dodgers, and the Cubs improved to 7-3 under interim manager Mike Quade. Alfonso Soriano also hit a three-run shot in the victory, while Xavier Nady went 3-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored.
Randy Wells allowed four runs, eight hits and four walks in the start, and John Russell (1-1) earned the win for retiring the only batter he faced. Carlos Marmol ended up with his 26th save of the season.
David Wright hit a solo homer among three hits and drove in three, as the Mets fell for the fourth time in five games. Luis Hernandez added his first home run with the team in defeat.
R.A. Dickey (9-6) squandered an opportunity to set a new career-high in wins after giving up a season-worst seven runs on eight hits and a walk in six frames.
With the game tied entering the bottom of the sixth, the Cubs went ahead for good.
Aramis Ramirez walked to start, and Nady followed with a base hit. Dickey was able to retire the next two hitters, but DeWitt crushed a pitch over the wall in right for a three-run homer and a 7-4 Chicago lead.
Wright led off the Mets’ seventh with a homer, and Hernandez followed suit for the Mets in the eighth to pull New York to within 7-6.
Marmol pitched around a two-out walk in the ninth to prevent a comeback.
The Mets jumped on the board in the opening inning for three runs.
Angel Pagan singled leading off, and Lucas Duda followed with a four-pitch walk. Two batters later, both runners came around to score on Wright’s double.
Wright moved to third on an Ike Davis single and scored the third run on Joaquin Arias’ fielder’s choice groundout.
Dickey looked sharp, retiring nine of the first 10 Cubs hitters, but the knuckleballer ran into trouble in the fourth.
Starlin Castro and Marlon Byrd began the inning with consecutive singles, and Nady’s base hit with one out plated Castro for a 3-1 game. Two batters later, Soriano crushed a Dickey offering into the left-field seats for a one- run Chicago lead.
New York responded with Duda’s RBI double — his first career run driven in — to tie the game in the sixth.
Hernandez hit his first home run since September 27, 2007, while with Baltimore. It was the second of his career…The Mets still lead the season series, 3-2…New York has scored first in 13 of its last 17 games…The Mets had won each of Dickey’s last four starts.