5:50 p.m.: Mets win, 18-5, and avoid getting swept.

5:44 p.m.: Mets post 18 runs. It's their highest scoring output since beating the Arizona Diamondbacks, 18-4, on Aug. 24, 2005.

5:34 p.m.: Ruben Tejada walks with the bases loaded in the ninth. It's his fifth RBI. Mets lead, 14-5.

4:43 p.m.: Geovany Soto homers off Jon Niese to open the bottom of the seventh. 8-5. Jerry Manuel goes to the bullpen.

4:35 p.m.: Ruben Tejada delivers his first career homer. He has four RBIs. Mets lead, 8-4, in the seventh.

4:22 p.m.: Nick Evans returns to the Mets with a bases-loaded pinch-hitting opportunity in the sixth. He strikes out.

4:01 p.m.: The Mets even the score on RBI singles by Carlos Beltran and Ike Davis in the fifth. With the bases loaded and none out, Lucas Duda and Josh Thole. Ruben Tejada then falls behind in the count, 1-2, before serving a single to center for a two RBIs. Jon Niese then has his second RBI single of the afternoon to chase Ryan Dempster. Tejada and Niese have a combined five RBIs. Mets 7, Cubs 4.

3:35 p.m.: Jon Niese slipped and fell, resulting in a pitch behind Tyler Colvin with one out in the fourth inning. Assistant trainer Mike Herbst goes to mound, Niese throws warm-up pitches and continues.

3:27 p.m.: Aramis Ramirez delivers a two-run homer off Jon Niese in the third inning. Cubs 3, Mets 2.

2:57 p.m.: Mets produce a pair of runs in the second against Ryan Dempster, on a sacrifice fly by Ruben Tejada and Jon Niese's RBI single. Mets lead, 2-1.

2:48 p.m.: Aramis Ramirez delivers a first-inning RBI single, but Jon Niese wiggles out of further damage by retiring Xavier Nady on a 5-4-3 double play. Cubs 1, Mets 0, heading to the second.

2:43 p.m.: After Marlon Byrd singles up the middle in the first inning, Carlos Beltran requires a visit from assistant trainer Mike Herbst because of difficulty with his right eye.

2:20 p.m.: Lineups:

Mets

Angel Pagan, RF
Luis Hernandez, 2B
Carlos Beltran, CF
Ike Davis, 1B
Mike Hessman, 3B
Lucas Duda, LF
Josh Thole, C
Ruben Tejada, SS
Jon Niese, LHP

Cubs

Jeff Baker, 2B
Starlin Castro, SS
Marlon Byrd, CF
Aramis Ramirez, 3B
Xavier Nady, 1B
Alfonso Soriano, LF
Tyler Colvin, RF
Geovany Soto, C
Ryan Dempster, RHP