NEW YORK (AP) — David Peterson got only one out and the slumping New York Mets fell behind early Wednesday night in a 6-3 loss that completed a three-game sweep by the Chicago Cubs.
The NL East leaders lost their fifth consecutive home game and dropped to 5-7 in a 16-game stretch against Washington, Pittsburgh, Miami and Chicago — all more than 20 games under .500 this season.
“It doesn’t matter who’s on the other side,” New York shortstop Francisco Lindor said. “We can’t take it for granted. We’ve got to respect our opponent, and hats off to the Cubs. They came in, they played well, they executed.”
New York remained a half-game ahead of the Braves in the division race after they lost in San Francisco earlier. The Mets have held a share of first place for all but two days this season: April 11 and Sept. 9.
New York has dropped three straight overall for the second time this month and fourth time this year.
Peterson’s only out was a strikeout of Patrick Wisdom, and the left-hander allowed two-run doubles to Yan Gomes and P.J. Higgins. Trevor Williams permitted an RBI double to Michael Hermosillo and a run-scoring single to Nelson Velázquez in Chicago’s 25-minute opening inning.
Pete Alonso and Tomás Nido homered for the Mets, who scored six runs in the series and got swept for the fourth time this year. New York was also swept in a pair of two-game sets against AL-best Houston in June and last month against the Yankees in the Bronx.
“We’re trying to get to that finish line and have a chance to be the last team standing and all those goals are still there for us, but these are the times (that test you),” manager Buck Showalter said. “We’ve had challenges this year. We know it hasn’t been always aesthetically pleasing but I think because of the time of year and the…