CHICAGO _ Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo was named National League player of the week for Aug. 20-26, and he didn't let up Monday night.
Rizzo collected three hits that played an instrumental role as the Cubs pulled away to a 7-4 victory over the Mets at Wrigley Field that extended their lead in the NL Central to 4 { games over the Cardinals.
Rizzo hit a double in the first inning off hard-throwing Noah Syndergaard to score Daniel Murphy and tie the game at 1.
In the seventh, Rizzo hit a double off left-hander Jerry Blevins and scored the go-ahead run on a double by Ben Zobrist.
And in the eighth, Rizzo hit a solo home run off left-hander Daniel Zamora as the Cubs extended their winning streak to six games, tying a season-high set June 28-July 4.
The Cubs ran into trouble in the ninth as Pedro Strop allowed two of the first three runners to reach base. Justin Wilson relieved Strop and allowed a single to Jay Bruce on an 0-2 count. Jesse Chavez was then dispatched and struck out Amed Rosario and Austin Jackson to end the game.
Pitcher Jon Lester momentarily seized the moment by smacking a two-run single with two out in the third off Syndergaard to give the Cubs 4-3 lead in the third.
The Mets elected to intentionally walk Kyle Schwarber to load the bases to face Lester, who was 5-for-50 (.100) this season before smacking his single to center field.
The hit made up for Lester's early struggles, as he allowed a home run to Michael Conforto to open the second that traveled an estimated 472 feet.
Later in the inning, Lester walked Syndergaard with two outs that led to a single to Rosario that extended the Mets' lead to 3-1.
Kevin Plawecki tied the game in the seventh with a home run off Steve Cishek.
Meanwhile, Rizzo batted .429 with a 1.000 slugging percentage and 1.500 OPS in earning the player of the week award. Rizzo hit three home runs (all in consecutive games Aug. 21-23), and he drove in six runs.
