NEW YORK _ Victor Caratini wasn't about to succumb to Jacob deGrom's overpowering repertoire.
Caratini, making his third start at first base in place of injured slugger Anthony Rizzo, fouled off four consecutive pitches, ranging from a 98 mph fastball to an 89 mph changeup.
And when deGrom hung a 90 mph slider, Caratini cranked the pitch into the upper deck in right field for a three-run home run with one out in the seventh inning Thursday that vaulted the Cubs to a 4-1 victory over the Mets before a stunned crowd of 38,389 at Citi Field.
Caratini's blast, which came on a 1-2 pitch, ignited a giddy Cubs dugout. Entering the seventh, deGrom had allowed only one hit _ a home run by Caratini with one out in the second.
With the win, the Cubs (72-61) equaled their season-best five-game road winning streak, extended their winning streak at Citi Field to seven games and cut their deficit to 1{ games behind the NL Central-leading Cardinals.
This marked the fifth time this season the Cubs have been 11 games over .500.
Caratini's game-winning home run occurred on the Cubs' first at-bat with runners in scoring position. Kris Bryant started the rally with a one-out single and advanced to second on a hit by Javier Baez that squeezed through the middle of the infield.
Caratini became the first Cub to hit more than one homer off the reigning Cy Young Award winner since Hall of Famer Ernie Banks hit two against Mike McCormick on May 26, 1968, according to STATS.
Inserting the switch-hitting Caratini at first base and Tony Kemp making his first start in left field was part of manager Joe Maddon's attempt to create more contact against deGrom, who struck out seven to increase his NL-leading total to 214.
DeGrom had allowed only 15 home runs in 162 innings before Thursday.
Jon Lester, who allowed six runs in 4? innings in a loss to the Nationals on Saturday, wiggled out of trouble in the first three innings to earn the win. Lester allowed a home run to J.D. Davis with two out in the first and threw 65 pitches though three innings.
But after allowing a double to Wilson Ramos and walking Michael Conforto with two out in the third, Lester retired the next eight batters. He received some help in the sixth from catcher Jonathan Lucroy, who made a quick throw to nail Conforto on a steal attempt after Todd Frazier struck out for an inning-ending double play.
The Cubs won't have much time to savor this win as they open a three-game series Friday against the Brewers at Wrigley Field.
