Rizzo, Cubs go for sweep of Mets
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}
It didn't take long for Anthony Rizzo's bat to have an impact for the Cubs.
The highly-regarded prospect will next try to led Chicago to its first sweep of the New York Mets in over eight years this afternoon in the finale of a three-game series.
The 22-year-old Rizzo was a sixth-round pick by Boston in 2007 and was dealt to the Padres in December of 2010 in a deal that sent Adrian Gonzalez to the Red Sox. Rizzo hit just .141 with a homer, nine RBI and 46 strikeouts in 49 games with San Diego in 2011 before being traded to the Cubs in January.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}
Rizzo, regarded as the club's top prospect, was terrorizing the minors this year, batting .342 with a Pacific Coast League-leading 23 homers in 70 games with Iowa. He was recalled from the minors prior to last night's game, starting at first base while hitting third.
Rizzo went 2-for-4 and his RBI double in the fourth inning proved to be the difference in a 5-3 win, the Cubs' second straight following a four-game slide.
"It was awesome to have that," said Rizzo. "Being able to come into the clubhouse and contribute right away, it's a great feeling."
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}
Chicago next tries to win three straight for the first time since May 28-30 and in doing so would record its first three-game sweep of New York since April 23-25, 2004 at Wrigley Field.
David Wright and Josh Thole both drove in a run for the Mets, who matched a season high with their fourth straight loss. Dillon Gee gave up four runs on nine hits over five innings and also drove in a run in the loss.
"I was out there battling and trying to make some pitches, but I left some of them up there and they got a hold of them," said Gee. "They were just able to put the ball in the right spots."
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}
Jon Niese will try to prevent the sweep today and is coming off Friday's win over the Yankees. The left-hander held the American League East powerhouses to a pair of runs over 6 1/3 frames, the fourth straight start in which he has pitched at least six frames.
Niese improved to 5-3 with a 3.75 earned run average on the season and the 25- year-old is 1-2 with a 5.95 ERA in four career meetings with the Cubs.
Chicago's Jeff Samardzija hopes to avoid a fourth straight losing start today and he has pitched to a 10.29 ERA over his current string of losses.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}
The 27-year-old righty was charged with five runs over five innings of work at Arizona on Friday, getting dealt a 6-1 loss. Samardzija fell to 5-6 with a 4.34 ERA in 14 starts this year, but that does include a 3-2 mark and 2.36 ERA in six at home.
Samardzija will make the first start of his career versus the Mets, but does own a career 2.70 ERA in six previous relief appearances without a decision.
The Cubs won four of six over the Mets a season ago.