Cubs lose 3-1 to Mets; Ryan Dempster will return to start in series finale Sunday

The Cubs lost the second game of the three game series to the New York Mets 3-1 at Citi Field on Saturday.  Jeff Samardzija started for the Cubs and allowed three runs on seven hits while striking out four and walking two batters over seven innings pitched.

Jeff Samardzija gave up two homers early, but settled down to pitch seven innings against the Mets on Saturday (photo from cubs.com)

The Cubs' offense consisted of David DeJesus driving in Luis Valbuena with an RBi single in the sixth inning.  Anthony Rizzo increased his batting average to .386 and was 2-for-4 today.  Too bad the Cubs couldn't score much beyond that.

The Cubs were briefly out of last place in the NL Central division when they beat the Mets Friday night, but are now back in last place with their loss since the Astros beating the Brewers on Saturday. 

Tomorrow the Cubs and Mets will play the rubber game of the series at 12:10pm CT.  Ryan Dempster will return from the disabled list after more than three weeks on it and start for the Cubs.   He seems to have recovered from his sore right lat and threw successfully from flat ground on Friday. 

Manager Dale Sveum said Dempster will be held to an 80-pitch limit tomorrow.  "He says he feels as good as he has all year," Sveum said Friday.  "His bullpens are as sharp as anybody's are going to be.  It's just a matter of some durability issues maybe.  The guy keeps himself in phenomenal shape.  That's one part of the decision.  If it was somebody other than Ryan Dempster, you probably wouldn't be thinking about this."  I'm certainly excited for Dempster's return!  Let's get out of last place again, Cubbies!