Heading into tonight Lucas Duda was 3-for-24 with one RBI in the 2015 MLB playoffs. However, the New York Mets reaped the benefits of his first two at-bats on Wednesday night to advance to their first World Series since 2000 with a sweep of the Chicago Cubs in the NLCS.
The Mets capped off the series never having trailed at any moment.
Duda hit a three-run home run off Cubs' starter Jason Hammel in the top of the first inning and then added a two-run double in the top of the second to put the Mets on top 6-0 in the early going. He finished 3-for-4 with a walk, a run scored and five RBIs. Travis d'Arnaud also smacked a solo shot in the first to contribute to the lead.
The Cubs could not dig themselves out of that daunting hole and New York sent Chicago packing with an 8-3 victory.
Duda's home run also set a franchise record for the Mets.
Mets already have a franchise-record 13 postseason homers, with a round to go. Previous record was 12 in 1969.
— Adam Rubin (@AdamRubinESPN) October 22, 2015
But that number went to 14 in the eighth inning.
Daniel Murphy happened, again. The veteran went 4-for-5 with two runs scored, a home run and two RBIs to increase his stat line to .421/.436/1.462 for the playoffs. It was his sixth consecutive postseason game with a home run, which is a new MLB record.
HISTORY: Daniel Murphy homers in SIX straight #postseason games: https://t.co/yywyJYt3Sf #Crushed pic.twitter.com/t6dztobKpw
— MLB (@MLB) October 22, 2015
Murphy has seven home runs in the postseason after recording only 14 in 130 regular season games.
He also tied Lou Gehrig with his seventh straight postseason game recording a hit, RBI and run, according to SportsCenter.
He was named MVP of the NLCS after going 9-for-17 with six runs scored, four home runs and six RBIs.
Mets' left-hander Steven Matz tossed 4 2/3 innings and allowed just one earned run on four hits and two walks. New York's bullpen was able to cling to the seven-run lead and tossed 4 1/3 innings of two-run ball.
The only bad news for the Mets was that Yoenis Cespedes left the game in the second inning because of a sore shoulder, but it didn't matter. The Mets went 11-for-36 with five walks and eight RBIs against seven Cubs pitchers.
New York will now have six days to rest up as Game 1 of the World Series is scheduled for Tuesday. The Mets will face the winner of the Kansas City Royals and Toronto Blue Jays, as Game 6 of the ALCS is set for Friday. The Royals can clinch with a win.
In the meantime, let the celebrating commence.
