Cubs Unleash Early Barrage, Hold Off Mets Rally for 9-6 Win

The Chicago Cubs came to Queens on Tuesday night and reminded the New York Mets exactly why you don’t let a team get comfortable in the early innings. In a game that showcased both offensive fireworks and defensive desperation, the Cubs punched their ticket to victory with a dominant second inning performance that essentially decided things before the Mets could even blink. Final score: 9-6 Cubs, and honestly, it should have been more lopsided.

Let’s talk about that second inning, because it was nothing short of a clinic in aggressive baseball. The Cubs manufactured five runs before recording a single out, turning Kodai Senga‘s night into a nightmare almost immediately. Carson Kelly’s walk set the table, then Pete Crow-Armstrong arrived with the lumber and absolutely demolished a pitch over the right-center field wall for a three-run bomb. That’s the kind of blast that deflates a ballpark faster than a punctured tire. Dansby Swanson added insult to injury with a sacrifice fly, proving that the Cubs weren’t just swinging for the fences, they were playing smart baseball.

Swanson deserves his own paragraph, frankly. The guy was absolutely unconscious at the plate, finishing 2-for-3 with a home run and four RBIs. In the fourth inning, he crushed another fly ball to left that sailed out for a two-run homer. Then in the eighth, he doubled down on the damage with an RBI double on a sharp ground ball. This is what elite offensive production looks like, and the Mets had no answers for it.

Crow-Armstrong wasn’t finished either. His three-run bomb in the second set the tone, and the young Cubs outfielder looked like a man who belonged in big moments. That’s exactly the kind of performance that wins baseball games in June and wins them decisively.

Senga Implodes, Cabrera Gutsy Despite Injury

Kodai Senga lasted just 3.2 innings, surrendering three hits and seven earned runs while walking five batters. That’s not a pitching line, that’s a disaster. Edward Cabrera, meanwhile, showed the kind of resilience that defines postseason teams. He went five innings for the win, allowing just three hits and two earned runs despite exiting with a left leg injury. You can’t help but respect a pitcher who grits through pain to give his team quality innings.

Mets Fight Back, But Too Little, Too Late

The Mets weren’t pushovers, mind you. Francisco Alvarez collected three RBIs with a double and a solo homer, while Bo Bichette launched a two-run shot in the ninth that briefly suggested a comeback narrative. But by then, the Cubs had already built an insurmountable lead through disciplined, timely hitting. Alvarez’s efforts were admirable, but they came too late to matter.

Craig Counsell got his money’s worth, too. The Cubs manager was ejected in the seventh inning, presumably for arguing balls and strikes. In a game featuring multiple replay reviews and ABS challenges, the last thing this game needed was added drama. But that’s baseball in 2026.

The Cubs made a statement on Tuesday night at Citi Field: they’re ready to compete with anybody. The Mets? They need to figure out their starting rotation issues before they become a real problem.