WHAT IT MEANS: Jordany Valdespin and Ike Davis homered and Dillon Gee took a scoreless effort into the sixth en route to matching his longest career outing as the Mets beat the Cubs, 3-1, Saturday at Citi Field.

Given the start in left field, Valdespin homered for the second straight day and fourth time during his rookie season. The solo shot off Cubs right-hander Jeff Samardzija in the second opened the scoring. Davis’ two-run shot an inning later upped the Mets’ lead to three runs.

Davis’ homer was his 12^th this season, tying him with Lucas Duda and Scott Hairston for the team lead. Valdespin, meanwhile, has produced 14 RBIs in his 67 at-bats. That matches Baltimore’s Steve Pearce for the most RBIs in the majors this season by players with no more than that at-bat total.

Gee held the 3-0 lead into the sixth, when he surrendered a leadoff double to Luis Valbuena and one-out RBI single to David DeJesus. Gee recovered to strand two baserunners by striking out Alfonso Soriano on a full-count offering with two outs.

Gee logged eight innings, matching his career high. He also went that distance in a June 10, 2011 victory against the Pirates. Gee will not pitch again until Game No. 3 or 4 of the second half, either July 15 in Atlanta or July 17 in Washington.

CLOSER CALL: Bobby Parnell continued his closing work with Frank Francisco on the DL. Parnell converted his second save in two chances since Francisco suffered the strained left oblique and was deactivated. Parnell did allow a leadoff double to Anthony Rizzo, snapping a string of four appearances in Francisco's absence in which he did not allow a batter to reach base.

Parnell benefited from a solid over-the-shoulder catch by Ruben Tejada retreating in shallow left field on a flare for the second out, off the bat of Bryan LaHair.

WHAT’S NEXT: The Mets (46-39) complete the first half by sending Jon Niese (7-3, 3.35 ERA) to the mound opposite on-the-trading-block right-hander Ryan Dempster (3-3, 2.11), who is returning from the disabled list. The Amazin’s can match their season high at eight games over .500 with a victory.

David Wright, R.A. Dickey and Terry Collins then head to Kansas City for the All-Star Game.

Also in K.C., right-hander Zack Wheeler and third baseman Wilmer Flores play in the Futures Game on Sunday at 5 p.m. ET. The prospect showcase will be televised by ESPN2.