CHICAGO (AP) – Jake Arrieta pitched eight sparkling innings, Kris Bryant homered for the second straight day and the Chicago Cubs spoiled Noah Syndergaard’s anticipated debut with a 6-1 victory over the New York Mets on Tuesday night.
Arrieta (4-3) had a season-high 10 strikeouts and allowed one run and three hits. The right-hander had dropped each his last two starts.
Bryant had three hits, including his first major league triple. The rookie star belted a leadoff shot against Hansel Robles in the eighth, sending a towering shot to the back of the bleachers in left.
Showing off his electric fastball and sharp curve, Syndergaard had moments where he looked ready to join Matt Harvey on top of a fearsome rotation for New York. But the 6-foot-6 right-hander faded in the sixth and was charged with three runs and six hits in 5 1-3 innings.
Chris Coghlan hit a two-run homer for Chicago, which finished with 11 hits. Starlin Castro doubled twice and drove in a run.