Cubs finish sweep of reeling Mets with late rally

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A former Mets prospect, https://chicago.suntimes.com/cubs" >Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong claimed he and his teammates weren’t too concerned about or aware of New York’s woes.

One of the priciest teams in baseball, the Mets entered Sunday on a 10-game losing streak and were already fielding questions about the future of manager Carlos Mendoza and https://chicago.suntimes.com/cubs/2026/04/17/miserable-mets-cautionary-tale-cubs-injuries-wrigley-field-mlb" >whether this season will be a chaotic failure in Queens.

Regardless of the opponent, of if you entirely believe that Crow-Armstrong didn’t know too much about what’s happening with the Mets, the Cubs say their focus is basically the same.

“Like any team, we’re just looking to step on their throat and play our style of baseball,” Crow-Armstrong said. “Whatever happens with that happens, but we’re not really paying attention to any other team’s happenings or what state they’re in.

It’s about us.”

It’s better to be in the Cubs’ state, especially after they rallied Sunday for a 2-1 win to sweep the Mets and extend New York’s losing streak to 11 games.

Pinch-hitter Michael Conforto, who played 757 games with the Mets over seven seasons, tied the game in the bottom of the ninth with a double down the right field line.

Helped by New York right fielder Tyrone Taylor struggling to pick up the ball in the corner, Cubs pinch-runner Scott Kingery was able to score from first.

In the 10th, Crow-Armstrong was the Cubs’ free runner and advanced to third on a Craig Kimbrel wild pitch.

With one out and first base open and slumping Michael Busch on deck, Mendoza elected to pitch to Hoerner, whose fly ball to right brought in Crow-Armstrong for the Cubs’ fifth straight win.

The possibility of getting walked was on Hoerner’s mind, but he went up to the plate and got the ball into the air like he wanted.

“I don’t know what goes into those decisions but I’m glad I got the opportunity,” Hoerner said.

Conforto was more excited about his pinch-hit meant to the Cubs, not any notions of revenge against his former team.

“It’s a big swing for us,” Conforto said. “The first sweep of the year.

The offense being held to no runs up to that point.

Our pitchers putting on a performance against a team that’s fighting for their lives.

“Just a big moment.

I was excited to be on the field [and] playing.

It was a combination of everything.”

That moment was made possible by the Cubs’ pitching, picking up for an offense that went 0 for 9 with runners in scoring position and left seven runners on base.

Making his first start since giving up nine runs in 4 1/3 innings last Monday at Philadelphia, Javier Assad recovered.

Assad did allow MJ Melendez’s fifth-inning home run to give the Mets a 1-0 lead but was sharp other than that.

“After I watched the video [of the Philadelphia start], you move past it,” Assad, who pitched 5 2/3 innings and gave up three hits and one run, said through a translator. “It’s great to get a win.”

Once Assad departed, the Cubs bullpen threw 4 1/3 scoreless innings.

Jacob Webb replaced Assad in the sixth and struck out Francisco Lindor with a runner on third to keep the Cubs’ deficit at one run, and then threw a shutout seventh.

Riley Martin, Corbin Martin and Caleb Thielbar followed by making it through an inning apiece.

“The story of the game was pitching; we pitched extremely well,” manager Craig Counsell said. “I’m proud of those guys, and definitely some confidence-building appearances for those guys.”

The Mets don’t have that confidence.

The Cubs do.