CHICAGO _ The Cubs overcame the struggles of Jen-Ho Tseng in his major-league debut Thursday night as they scored five runs in the fourth inning and five in the sixth to pull away to a 14-6 victory over the Mets at Wrigley Field.
With the victory, the Cubs maintained their three-game lead in the National League Central entering their weekend showdown with the rival Cardinals.
Jon Jay, Kris Bryant and Anthony Rizzo hit consecutive doubles during the five-run rally. Rizzo hit his 32nd home run in the third to tie a season-high, and Jason Heyward highlighted a five-run sixth by ripping a three-run home run. Rookie catcher Taylor Davis collected a 40-foot single for his first-major league hit in the second.
Tseng received rave reviews for his control and poise, but he walked Jose Reyes, committed a fielding error and hit Dominic Smith with a pitch in the first. Mike Montgomery pitched two scoreless innings in relief of Tseng, who was charged with five runs on five hits in three innings.
In addition to Tseng's error while covering first base, Davis botched shortstop Javier Baez's one-hop relay throw to home plate, thus allowing Reyes to score in the second.
