Chicago, IL (SportsNetwork.com) - Jake Arrieta tossed eight solid innings as the Chicago Cubs spoiled Noah Syndergaard's major-league debut with a 6-1 victory over the New York Mets on Tuesday.
Arrieta (4-3) bounced back from dropping his last two starts to surrender just one run on three hits and two walks with a season-high 10 strikeouts.
"You have to pitch well to beat good pitching. (Arrieta) was outstanding," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said
Kris Bryant finished 3-for-4 with a triple and a homer, while Starlin Castro doubled twice, scored twice and drove in a run for the Cubs, who have won the first two of this four-game set.
Syndergaard (0-1), regarded as the Mets' top prospect and ranked 11th on the MLB.com's 2015 prospect list, allowed three runs on six hits and four walks, He recorded six strikeouts over 5 1/3 frames.
"I'm not going to lie, I was really nervous... From the first pitch on I felt really good out there," Syndergaard said.
The Cubs got to Syndergaard in the sixth. Jorge Soler led off with a single and came home on Castro's double down the left-field line. Chris Coghlan increased the lead to 3-0 with a blast into the right-field bleachers.
Alex Torres relieved Syndergaard and walked three straight batters with two outs to load the bases. Miguel Montero chopped a grounder near the hole between first and second for an infield single.
Castro doubled to start the seventh and hustled home on Russell's two-bagger to the right-field corner for a 5-0 score.
New York pushed across a run in the eighth as Lucas Duda and Wilmer Flores each singled to place runners at the corners. Kevin Plawecki's sacrifice fly two batters later scored Duda.
In the eighth, Bryant crushed a fastball to left for a solo shot off Hansel Robles to account for the final score.
Syndergaard got off to a great start. He struck out Dexter Fowler for the first out and needed just seven pitches to get out of the first inning.
In the third, Bryant beat out third baseman Daniel Murphy's throw to first for an infield single and Anthony Rizzo and Montero each walked to load the bases. Syndergaard diffused the threat by getting Soler to fly out to right.
Bryant drove a fly ball off the wall in right field for a two-out triple in the fifth. Syndergaard walked Rizzo, but responded with a timely strikeout on Montero to exit the inning unscathed.
Game Notes
Chicago has won its last five games against New York at Wrigley Field ... The Cubs improved to 14-2 when their starting pitchers record a quality start this season ... Russell has safely reached base in his last 15 games, a streak that has taken place within his first 19 career games ... Bryant has homered three times in the last four games ... Mets outfielder Juan Lagares was out of the lineup due to a slight strain underneath his right arm ... Chicago will send Jason Hammel to the mound Wednesday to face fellow right-hander Matt Harvey.
Receive your weekly recap of all the happenings around the world of sports.