Mets takeaways from Wednesday's 4-3 win over Cubs, including Pete Alonso's fourth home run of series

The Mets avoided a third consecutive series loss by defeating the Chicago Cubs, 4-3, in Wednesday night's rubber game.

Here are the takeaways...

- It’s safe to say Pete Alonso owns the Chicago Cubs as the first baseman struck again on Wednesday night. With his team down 2-0 this time, Alonso uncorked on an 87-mph sinker thrown by Kyle Hendricks that traveled 434 feet and tied the game.

Before Alonso’s towering blast, Francisco Lindor led off the inning with a single and was almost picked off at first base by Hendricks. In fact, the first base umpire initially called Lindor out, but the Mets challenged the call and after review, Lindor was called safe. The review took a long time which may have disrupted Hendricks’ rhythm because three pitches later Alonso sent one to the seats.

- After taking a first-inning lead in the first two games of the series, it was the Mets who were down after one in this one. Christopher Morel got the fireworks started early, hitting the first pitch David Peterson threw over the left-field wall to give Chicago an instant 1-0 lead. Peterson followed that up by striking out the next three batters he faced, all swinging.

The Cubs scored another run in the second inning after Seiya Suzuki, who tripled to right field with one out, came around to score on Francisco Alvarez’s passed ball on a ball inside that he tried too hard to frame. With nobody on, Peterson retired the next two hitters.

The left-hander got through the third despite two walks in the frame thanks to a double play that ended the inning, but after retiring the first two in the fourth Peterson allowed back-to-back singles that ended his night after 62 pitches (36 strikes). Grant Hartwig came in for relief and calmly struck out Patrick Wisdom to keep the score at 2-0. Then, Alonso happened.

- Hartwig went two more innings and retired six of the next seven batters he faced. He pitched 2.1 innings, allowing one hit and striking out two and lowered his ERA to 3.27, continuing to improve his stock as a member of the Mets’ bullpen.

- Hendricks’ night was done after five innings and he was replaced by Hayden Wesneski in the sixth inning of a tie game. Jeff McNeil was the first batter to face Wesneski and hit a solo home run on the second pitch he saw that broke the tie and gave New York a 3-2 lead. The homer was McNeil’s fifth home run of the season and just his second at Citi Field this year. It was also his second in five games as he looks to get his season back on track.

It didn’t end there for Wesneski, though, who then gave up a double to Abraham Almonte (his first hit as a Met), a fielder’s choice to Mark Vientos that didn’t record any outs and an RBI single to Jonathan Arauz that gave New York a two-run lead. With Wesneski out and Jose Cuas in and runners on first and second with nobody out, the Mets failed to score another run in the inning.

- Trevor Gott and Josh Walker each pitched a scoreless inning of relief before giving way to Adam Ottavino who came in looking for the save. However, Ottavino couldn’t get the job done, serving up a leadoff home run to Suzuki that brought the Cubs back within a run. Jeimer Candelario followed with a single and Mike Tauchman walked and that was it for Ottavino who was visibly surprised after Buck Showalter pulled him after three batters in favor of Phil Bickford.

Entering a one-run game with runners on first and second and nobody out in the ninth inning, Bickford got a sacrifice bunt that moved the runners over before striking out Morel for the second out of the inning. A walk to Nico Hoerner loaded the bases but Bickford struck out Ian Happ to end the game.

Highlights

What's next

The Mets have an off day on Thursday before they continue their 10-game homestand and welcome the Atlanta Braves for a four-game series starting on Friday night at 7:10 p.m. on SNY.

RHP Tylor Megill (6-5, 5.45 ERA) will make his second start for the Amazins' since being recalled from Triple-A. Meanwhile, the Braves haven't announced a starter.