CHICAGO (AP) Pete Alonso launched his major league-leading 19th home run and Carlos Carrasco earned his first win this season as the New York Mets routed the Chicago Cubs 10-1 on Thursday to avoid a three-game sweep.

Brett Baty knocked in New York's first two runs and the Mets pounded out 15 hits on a chilly night at Wrigley Field to ruin Kyle Hendricksā€™ season debut for the Cubs in his return from a serious shoulder injury.

Jeff McNeil had three hits and scored three times. New York got four straight base hits with two outs in a three-run third inning and took a 4-1 lead on Starling Marte's two-run single.

ā€œWe just put together good at-bats in some key situations and big moments there,ā€ McNeil said after the Mets were outscored 11-4 in the first two games of the series. ā€œWe didnā€™t play the kind of baseball we wanted to the last few days. To get this win is big.ā€

Alonso added a two-run homer in the seventh and Brandon Nimmo laced a two-run triple in a three-run eighth.

Dansby Swanson homered in the first off Carrasco (1-2), who pitched 6 2/3 effective innings in his fifth start this year and second since missing about a month with an elbow injury. A 15-game winner in 2022, the veteran right-hander allowed five hits and struck out four with two walks in his longest outing of the season. He lowered his ERA to 6.75.

ā€œI could throw everything for strikes today,ā€ said Carrasco, who induced plenty of easy groundouts and fly balls. ā€œWhen I have that kind of changeup, I donā€™t want to stop throwing them because I can get a lot of ground balls.ā€

The Mets improved to 12-0 when their starting pitcher goes at least six innings.

New York had dropped six in a row to the Cubs dating to last season.

Back from a capsular tear in his right shoulder, Hendricks (0-1) made his first start since June 5 last year. He gave up five runs - three earned - and six hits in 4 1/3 innings. The right-hander struck out five and walked two.

ā€œAt the end of the day, just getting to this point and getting back out there was No. 1,ā€ Hendricks said.

END OF THE LINE

Christopher Morel went 0 for 3 for the Cubs, ending his 13-game hitting streak this season. Morel had hit safely in 14 straight overall, including last seasonā€™s finale.

SƁNCHEZ CUT

Two-time All-Star Gary SƔnchez was designated for assignment by the Mets when they reinstated fellow catcher TomƔs Nido from the injured list before the game. SƔnchez went 1 for 6 with three strikeouts and an RBI in three games with New York, looking shaky at times behind the plate.

TRAINERā€™S ROOM

Mets: Nido had been sidelined since May 7 due to dry eye syndrome. ... C Omar NarvƔez (calf) began a rehab assignment with Class A Brooklyn.

Cubs: INF Nick Madrigal was optioned to Triple-A Iowa before the game to open a roster spot for Hendricks.

UP NEXT

Mets: Max Scherzer (2-3, 4.01 ERA) faces fellow right-hander Connor Seabold (1-1, 5.97) on Friday when the Mets open a series at Colorado.

Cubs: LHP Justin Steele (6-1, 2.20) opposes Cincinnati RHP Hunter Greene (0-4, 4.68) when the Cubs host the Reds.

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