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Top of the order lifts Mets to commanding NCLS series lead – Metro US
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Top of the order lifts Mets to commanding NCLS series lead

Top of the order lifts Mets to commanding NCLS series lead
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The Mets got off to a fast start and didn’t look back, tallying four runs early, all produced by their top four hitters en route to a 4-1Game 2 victory in the NLCS.

Noah Syndergaard pitched very well into the sixth before letting the Mets bullpen do the rest, giving New York a commanding series lead, as the pen set up Jeurys Familia to shut the door and clinch an impressive win.

David Wright slammed a double deep to center in the first to get the Mets on the board early, plating Curtis Granderson. Red-hot Daniel Murphy added an exclamation point (to the first inning), blasting a two-run homer off Cubs ace Jake Arrieta to put New York up 3-0 all before a second out was even recorded in the game.

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The Mets added to their lead with a little small ball, manufacturing a fourth run after a Granderson stolen gave Yoenis Cespedes an RBI opportunity. He seized it with an infield single to put New York ahead 4-0 (though they would strand two at the end of the third).

Chicago mounted its first real threat in the top of the sixth, with Dexter Fowler reaching on a single and advancing to second on a wild pitch. The Cubs took advantage as Kris Bryant hit a deep double to left field to get the North Side boys on the board, trailing 4-1 (and knocking Syndergaard out of the game in the process). Jonathan Niese came out of the bullpen to strike out Anthony Rizzo to minimize the damage.

Now leading the series 2-0, the Mets have kept their home-field advantage. No matter what happens in Chicago later this week, New York will have the opportunity to close out the series at home, if need be.

Only three teams have ever come back from a 2-0 deficit in the ALCS or NLCS (the 1985 Royals and Cardinals, the 2004 Red Sox). The Cubs hope to be the fourth when things swing to the midwest Tuesday.