NEW YORK_Chicago Cubs manager Joe Maddon stressed the importance of beating dominant pitching with better pitching.
Mike Montgomery did his part Saturday night, but the Cubs needed to overcome a season-high 24 strikeouts by scoring six times in the 14th inning to seize a 7-1 win over the Mets at Citi Field.
Albert Almora Jr. and Ben Zobrist each hit two-run doubles, and pinch-hitter Javier Baez cranked a two-run home run in the 14th. Luke Farrell, pressed into long relief because of the heavy usage of the bullpen in the past three games, pitched five scoreless innings to earn the win.
Brandon Morrow, pitching for the third time in four games, pitched a scoreless 14th.
The Cubs' 24 strikeouts surpassed their season high set on March 30 against the Miami Marlins in a 17-inning loss. Before their 14th inning rally, the Cubs were 3-for-14 with runners in scoring position and stranded 17 runners.
In the top of the 13th, Ian Happ hit a single with one out, stole second base and advanced to third on a throwing error by catcher Kevin Plawecki. Zobrist was intentionally walked, but Farrell and Kris Bryant struck out.
Farrell was forced to bat because relievers Cory Mazzoni and Justin Wilson already pitched, and Maddon didn't want to use the rest of a fatigued bullpen.
The Cubs left the bases loaded three times, including twice against Mets ace Jacob deGrom, who struck out 13 in seven innings. The Cubs nearly wasted a four-hit performance from Jason Heyward, who hit a single that advanced Zobrist to third with two out in the ninth. But Bryant grounded to short.
The Cubs wasted a chance with the bases loaded in the first as Willson Contreras and Kyle Schwarber struck out.
In the sixth, consecutive singles by Heyward, Bryant and Anthony Rizzo produced a 1-0 lead, but the Cubs failed to add more runs off deGrom.
That haunted them in the bottom of the sixth when Michael Conforto smacked a two-out home run over the center field fence off Montgomery.
Montgomery, making his second start in place of Yu Darvish, kept the Mets scoreless through his first 69 pitches. But because of the lack of runs, Montgomery was lifted for a pinch-hitter in the top of the seventh.
Montgomery survived errors by shortstop Addison Russell in the first and Bryant at third in the third.
