Matt Shaw and Michael Busch homer as Cubs rout Mets 10-3

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Chicago Cubs' Ian Happ, right, watches his two-RBI double during the third inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets, Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Paul Beaty)

Chicago Cubs' Seiya Suzuki watches his RBI double during the third inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets, Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Paul Beaty) — Chicago Cubs' Ian Happ, right, watches his two-RBI double during the third inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets, Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Paul Beaty)

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8:16 PM on Wednesday, September 24

By MATT CARLSON

CHICAGO (AP) — Matt Shaw homered and had three hits, Michael Busch also went deep and the Chicago Cubs ended a season-high five-game losing streak with a 10-3 rout of the New York Mets on Wednesday night.

Matthew Boyd (14-8) tossed two-hit ball over 5 1/3 innings to help playoff-bound Chicago solidify its hold on the first National League wild card, 2 1/2 games ahead of San Diego. The Cubs have four games left, while the Padres have three.

Juan Soto hit his 43rd homer and Francisco Alvarez launched a two-run drive, but the Mets were held to four hits. New York got help elsewhere when Arizona and Cincinnati lost in extra innings, keeping the Mets one game ahead of both in a scramble for the final NL wild card.

Boyd retired 12 of the first 13 Mets batters and didn’t allow a hit until Mark Vientos singled leading off the fifth. Daniel Palencia, who returned Wednesday from the injured list, followed Boyd and got the final two outs of the sixth.

Aaron Civale pitched three innings for his first career save.

The Cubs took control with a five-run rally in the third off rookie Jonah Tong (2-3). The 22-year-old right-hander, making his fifth start in the majors, was charged with five runs on seven hits and two walks in two-plus innings.

Shaw homered leading off the fourth.

Alvarez connected in the fifth to cut it to 6-2. The Cubs replied with two unearned runs in the bottom half, then Busch hit a two-run drive in the sixth for his 31st homer of the season.

Key moment

The first six Cubs hitters reached base in the third against Tong before Richard Lovelady relieved. Ian Happ’s double with the bases loaded drove in two runs. Moises Ballesteros, Seiya Suzuki and Pete Crow-Armstrong followed with RBIs.

Key stat

Vientos' low throw from third allowed Ballesteros to score in the fifth and was the Mets' ninth errors in six games. Crow-Armstrong then raced home from second on Clay Holmes' wild pitch.

Up next

Mets rookie right-hander Nolan McLean (4-1, 1.27 ERA) faces Cubs LHP Shota Imanaga (9-7, 3.37) in the series finale Thursday night.

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