CHICAGO Jonah Tong wasnt the answer Wednesday night, only underscoring the risk of thrusting an unproven rookie into the pre sure cooker of a pennant race. But its not like the pitching-strapped Mets had any other choice but to roll with the 22-year-old Tong, who recorded all of six outs an improvement on what the team received from sputtering David Peterson a night earlier. Acce s the Mets beat like never before Join Post Sports+ for exciting subscriber-only features, including real-time texting with Mike Puma about the inside buzz on the Mets. But this time the cavalry never arrived to get Tong off the hook, and the Mets got flattened in a 10-3 lo s to the Cubs at Wrigley Field a wasted opportunity to create breathing room in the race for the National Leagues third wild card. The Reds lost 4-3 to the Pirates in Bill White Jersey 11 innings to remain one game behind the Mets. The Diamondbacks lost 5-4 to the Dodgers in extras and also remained one game behind the Mets. The tiebreaker between the Mets and Arizona (who split the season series) is division record. The Dbacks are ahead on that count based on their 25-22 record against the NL West. The Mets are 24-25 against the NL East. The Reds own a tiebreaker against the Mets based on winning the season series. In his second ugly start in his past three, Tong allowed five earned runs on seven hits with two walks and one strikeout over two innings. The right-hander owns a 7.71 ERA in his five starts since his call-up from Triple-A Syracuse on Aug. 29. New York Mets starting pitcher Jonah Tong leaves the game during the third inning against the Chicago Cubs, Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2025, in Chicago. AP Explore More I just didnt get the job done, Tong said. His abbreviated outing pushed manager Carlos Mendoza to use Clay Holmes and Sean Manaea for one inning apiece in relief. Both remain in the mix to start this weekend in Miami. CHECK OUT THE AND The Mets are scheduled to start de facto ace Nolan McLean in Thursdays series rubber game against the Cubs. Chicago Cubs outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong (4) reacts after scoring on a wild pitch thrown by New York Mets pitcher Clay Holmes (not pictured) during the fifth inning at Wrigley Field on Sept. 24, 2025. Matt Marton-Imagn Images Well piece it together and continue to find ways to get 27 outs and get the wins that we need here, Mendoza said. Its not easy, especially with whats happened the past couple of days, even after an off-day. Tong nearly got tagged for a run in the first inning, but after a Mets replay challenge, Michael Busch was ruled out at the plate on Tyrone Taylors throw from center field. Busch doubled leading off and Nico Hoerner walked before Busch was thrown out on Moiss Ballesteros single. The Cubs did not score in the inning. After retiring the side in order in the second, Tong cratered in the third. Matt Shaw and Hoerner each singled with a walk to Busch sandwiched in between to load the bases and Ian Happs double gave the Cubs a 2-0 lead. Ballesteros singled in another run before Seiya Suzuki ended Tongs night with an RBI double that placed the Mets in a four-run hole. New York Mets pitcher Jonah Tong (21) reacts during the third inning against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. Matt Marton-Imagn Images Richard Lovelady entered to retire the next three batters, with a run scoring on Pete Crow-Armstrongs sacrifice fly that widened the Cubs lead to 5-0. Chicago Cubs first baseman Michael Busch (29) celebrates with third base Matt Shaw (6) after hitting a two run home run during the sixth inning against the New York Mets at Wrigley Field on Wednesday. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect I have got to do a better job limiting damage there, Tong said. Mendoza was asked about the challenge the rookie has faced in adjusting to the big leagues as the Mets play high-stakes games. Where were at, you run through that risk, Mendoza said. Its hard to put it on them or blame them. Shaw homered leading off the fourth against Lovelady to bury the Mets in a six-run hole. All this occurred before the Mets even got their first hit Francisco Alvarezs walk in the third against lefty Matthew Boyd was the teams only base runner until Mark Vientos singled leading off the fifth. Francisco Alvarez of the New York Mets rounds the bases after hitting a two-run home run against the Chicago Cubs during the fifth inning at Wrigley Field on September 24, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois. Getty Images Alvarezs second homer in as many games pulled the Mets to within 6-2 in the fifth. A night earlier, Alvarez blasted a two-run tiebreaking homer in the eighth inning that served as the margin of victory. Vientos throwing error on what should have been the final out in the fifth extended the Cubs lead to 7-2. Before the inning was complete, Holmes (who entered following a walk to Ballesteros leading off the frame) bounced a wild pitch and Crow-Armstrong raced two bases to score from second. Holmes was late in covering the plate after Alvarez was slow in retrieving the pitch to the backstop. Manaea pitched the sixth and surrendered a two-run homer to Busch that buried the Mets in a 10-2 hole. Shaw singled for his third hit of the game before Busch cleared the right field ivy the latest letdown by Manaea, who struggled in his start against the Nationals on Sunday. In the eighth, Juan Soto blasted homer No. 43 this season to give the Mets their final run. Chico Maki Jersey