CHICAGO -- The light-hitting New York Mets gave Matt Harvey one run of support. The Dark Knight made it work, tossing seven scoreless innings. Unfortunately for the Mets, the bullpen could not hold on from there.
Carlos Torres surrendered a game-tying RBI single to Dexter Fowler in the eighth. The Chicago Cubs then beat the Mets, 2-1, Wednesday night at Wrigley Field on Chris Coghlan's one-out, walk-off walk against Jeurys Familia in the ninth. Familia inherited the bases loaded with none out from Torres. He struck out Jorge Soler before Coghlan walked. Michael Cuddyer served as an extra infielder on the game-ending play.
Despite bullpen injuries and a suspension to original closer Jenrry Mejia, the Mets had been 17-0 this season when leading after seven innings before the Windy City letdown.
The surging Washington Nationals moved to within 1 1/2 games of the Mets (20-14) for first place in the NL East.
The Mets will attempt to avoid their first four-game sweep at Wrigley Field since 1992 on Thursday. They have lost six straight games at the Friendly Confines.
The Amazin's have scored only 39 runs in their past 15 games -- an average of 2.6 per game.
Harvey received a no-decision. He had been bidding to match teammate Bartolo Colon and Seattle Mariners ace Felix Hernandez for the major league lead in wins at 6.
Harvey allowed three hits and two walks (one intentional) while striking out nine in seven innings. He also hit one batter. Harvey sliced his ERA to 2.31. He departed with his pitch count at 100.
He worked around a leadoff double in the sixth, eventually stranding Addison Russell at third base by coaxing a groundout from Starlin Castro. Harvey had chosen to intentionally walk Anthony Rizzo to get to Castro.
The Mets left the bases loaded in the first inning when Wilmer Flores' fly ball was knocked down by a stiff wind and turned into a shallow pop fly, then Kevin Plawecki struck out.
They finally opened the scoring against Jason Hammel in the sixth. Curtis Granderson started the inning with a single and advanced to third base on Daniel Murphy's double down the third-base line. Michael Cuddyer followed with a run-scoring groundout.
Ouch: Kirk Nieuwenhuis went 0-for-4, including a ninth-inning strikeout that stranded Lucas Duda at second base. Nieuwenhuis, who is out of options, is 3-for-34 on the season. He has started the past two games in center field with Juan Lagares sidelined with a mild strain in his right armpit area.
What's next: Jonathon Niese (3-2, 1.95 ERA) opposes left-hander Travis Wood (2-2, 4.96) in Thursday's 2:20 p.m. ET finale to the four-game series.
