Jeurys Familia: Familia pulls escape act to earn 33rd save

CHICAGO (AP) – Jake Arrieta returned to form for the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday night.

“He’s a special guy”, Collins said of Familia.

“And that’s what we did”.

Closer Jeurys Familia escaped a bases-loaded jam with a game-ending double play after Rene Rivera drove in the tiebreaking run with two outs in the top of the ninth, lifting the Mets to their fifth victory in six games against the Cubs this season.

Rene Rivera’s two-out, RBI single in the ninth scored Neil Walker with the go-ahead run, putting NY in position to steal a win.

“That was a flawless throw and Rivera made a really good play on the back side”, Maddon said.

“I think it can be significantly better, but it’s definitely a step in the right direction”, Arrieta said. “And thank God I did”.

Reliever Hansel Robles (4-3) pitched two scoreless innings for the win.

With the score tied 5-5 in the seventh, Jeff Bandy was hit by a pitch from Keone Kela (1-1) to start the bottom of the inning and moved to third on Simmons’ double.

The victory evened the series at a game apiece heading into the finale Wednesday afternoon.

Mets vs Cubs Tuesday in Chicago – All-Star right-hander Noah Syndergaard will be making his first start of the second half on Tuesday when the New York Mets go up against Jake Arrieta and the Chicago Cubs.

Neither figured in decisions, but both pitched well, especially Arrieta, who bounced back from recent poor outings.

A’s 7, Astros 4 • Josh Reddick and Danny Valencia drew bases-loaded walks in host Oakland’s five-run fourth inning and it went on to win.

ROYALS 7, INDIANS 3: Jarrod Dyson hit a grand slam that capped a seven-run rally in the eighth inning and the Royals broke loose after Corey Kluber cramped up, beating Cleveland at Kansas City, Mo.

“That was a little more like it”, Arrieta said.

Rene Rivera usually leaves enough of an imprint on games with his defensive prowess, but his bat let the Mets steal a win Tuesday night. It was a tough game overall. Syndergaard on the other side he was good. “That’s what we’re so good at doing”.

New York Yankees’ Alex Rodriguez reacts as he rounds the bases with a home run during the second inning of a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles Monday, July 18, 2016, at Yankee Stadium in New York.

While he threw hard throughout the night, Syndergaard lacked his typical sharpness and needed 102 pitches to get through 5 2/3 innings.

Matz (7-6) was charged with four runs and eight hits in five-plus innings, dropping to 0-5 in his last nine starts. He had to deal with baserunners in each of the first four innings but only allowed a run in the third. “Go back to the strike zone and you’re going to have all the ground balls, ‘ and that’s what he did”. I was using my off-speed (stuff) pretty well throughout the game.

Chicago (56-37) lost for the second time in three games. NY (50-43) won for the third time in five games. Syndergaard held the Cubs to 0 for 6 with runners in scoring position in the first two innings.

With Jason Heyward at the plate, Syndergaard threw a wild pitch past catcher Rivera as Contreras sprinted for third.

Arrieta’s baserunning would play a role when he would get thrown out at the plate in the fourth to keep it a one run game. However, right fielder Michael Conforto fired a flawless strike to Rivera to tag Arrieta as he crossed the plate.

The only run he allowed was a result of Jose Reyes’ leadoff triple in the sixth, followed by three more quick outs (including a sacrifice fly). None of the current Cubs have been able to hit a home run off of him in 50 combined at-bats. The Mets are 44-19 when they hit at least one home run.