The last home run Jameson Taillon surrendered to the Mets on Friday was the most eye-popping.
It rocketed off Juan Soto’s bat at 110 mph and flew 434 feet, according to Statcast, into the deck above the bullpens beyond right field.
NEW YORK — In the Cubs’ 7-2 loss, the Mets blasted four solo home runs off Taillon. He allowed six runs in four innings – the other two coming out of a walk, a series of infield grounders and a throwing error by shortstop Dansby Swanson.
The Cubs offense didn’t put up much of a fight either. Kyle Tucker and Michael Busch contributed their only runs, solo homers in the fourth and ninth innings, respectively. Tucker was the first player to homer off Mets starter Clay Holmes this season.
The home runs off of Taillon, however – all on fastballs and left-handed swings – set the tone.
“Maybe just take the next couple days to evaluate some of the game planning and execution there,” Taillon said. “They jumped on some pitches. They also wasted and fouled off a lot of good pitches.”
Mets leadoff hitter Francisco Lindor took Taillon deep on his third pitch of the game. Ahead in the count 0-2, Taillon threw a fastball on the inside edge of the plate, about thigh high. Lindor turned on the pitch and cleared the right-field fence.
The next inning, Taillon surrendered two long balls. Against Brett Baty, Taillon again started the at-bat with two strikes, and Baty drove out a 1-2 sinker. Two batters later, Jeff McNeil gave a first-pitch fastball a ride.
In the fourth inning, Soto got in on the fun and mashed the seventh pitch of the at-bat.
Cubs starters have thrown five or fewer innings in three straight games.
Roster moves
The Cubs put left-handed reliever Caleb Thielbar on the paternity list before the game Friday. He and his wife welcomed a baby girl into the world, Counsell announced. In a corresponding move, the Cubs recalled left-hander Tom Cosgrove.
