Cubs crimp Mets' playoff chances with 10-3 rout

Matt Shaw homered and had three hits, Michael Busch also went deep and the Chicago Cubs ended a season-high five-game losing streak with a 10-3 rout of the New York Mets on Wednesday night.

Matthew Boyd (14-8) tossed two-hit ball over 5 1/3 innings to help playoff-bound Chicago solidify its hold on the first National League wild card, 2 1/2 games ahead of San Diego. The Cubs have four games left, while the Padres have three.

Juan Soto hit his 43rd homer and Francisco Alvarez launched a two-run drive, but the Mets were held to four hits. New York remained one game ahead of Cincinnati in a scramble with Arizona for the final NL wild card.

Boyd retired 12 of the first 13 Mets batters and didn’t allow a hit until Mark Vientos singled leading off the fifth. Daniel Palencia, who returned Wednesday from the injured list, followed Boyd and got the final two outs of the sixth.

Mets rookie right-hander Nolan McLean (4-1, 1.27 ERA) faces Cubs LHP Shota Imanaga (9-7, 3.37) in the series finale Thursday night.



(AP Photo Paul Beaty)