Imanaga stellar again, Cubs end game with double play to edge Mets 1-0

NEW YORK (AP) — Ian Happ, Nick Madrigal and Miguel Amaya teamed up for the game-ending double play Wednesday night, preserving the win for sensational rookie Shota Imanaga after he threw seven scoreless innings in the Chicago Cubs’ 1-0 victory over the New York Mets.

Hector Neris, who notched his fifth save, hit Pete Alonso with one out in the ninth and gave up a double to J.D. Martinez before Jeff McNeil flew out to Happ in left field. Alonso tagged up and raced home, but Madrigal — inserted at third base as a defensive replacement for Christopher Morel in the eighth — cut off Happ’s throw and whirled as he fired home to Amaya.

Alonso beat the throw, but Amaya had his foot on the plate and Alonso didn’t get his arm around the catcher.

“I thought we made a great play,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell said. “Ian made a good throw to Nick and Nick put a throw right on the money. Just good wherewithal by both guys to do it as fast as they did and as accurately as they could. And a great tag by Miggy.”

The Mets challenged the play, but after a review of more than four minutes, umpire Derek Thomas — the replay official at the Replay Center in New York — determined Amaya did not violate the home plate collision rule and could not “… definitely determine that (Alonso) contacted home plate” before Amaya made the tag.

“A roller coaster of emotions overall, but happy it worked out for us,” Madrigal said.

The Cubs resumed celebrating once crew chief Chad Fairchild announced the call was upheld.

“Amazing,” Amaya said. “An electric end for us.”

Mets manager Carlos Mendoza argued with Fairchild.

“I think they got the wrong call,” Mendoza said. “Without possession of the baseball, he cannot be in front of the plate, straddle the plate or have his foot on top of the plate. Clearly, on the replay, that wasn’t the case. He was blocking without possession of the baseball.”

Imanaga (5-0) allowed three hits and walked one with seven strikeouts to lower his ERA to 0.78 — the fourth-lowest mark by a pitcher through his first six career starts since earned runs became official in both leagues in 1913.

“I think personally there’s probably not that much data on me,” Imanaga said through an interpreter. “As they watch more video, they’re gathering more data, they’re going to have a plan for attack against me. So once that happens, just need to make an adjustment and then I need to prove myself.”

The Mets got two on against Mark Leiter Jr. in the eighth before Yency Almonte struck out Tyrone Taylor and Starling Marte.

Former Mets farmhand Pete Crow-Armstrong — who was dealt to Chicago for Javier Báez at the 2021 trade deadline — had a sacrifice fly in the fifth, four pitches after his bat flew out of his hands and landed in the netting above the home dugout when he missed an offering from New York starter Jose Butto. The bat was retrieved by Citi Field security immediately after the sacrifice fly that drove in Matt Mervis.

Butto (0-2) gave up four hits in six innings for the Mets, whose starting pitchers have posted a 1.33 ERA in the last four games. He struck out six.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Cubs: RHP Justin Steele (left hamstring strain), who was injured Opening Day, began a rehab assignment Wednesday, when he allowed three runs over 3 1/3 innings for Triple-A Iowa. Manager Craig Counsell said he wasn’t sure if Steele would make another rehab start before rejoining the major league team. … RHP Kyle Hendricks (lower back strain) is scheduled to start and throw 75-80 pitches Thursday for Double-A Tennessee.

Mets: SS Francisco Lindor (flu-like symptoms) was 0 for 1 before exiting after the second inning. Lindor has missed just three out of a possible 354 games since the start of 2022. … Marte, who didn’t play Tuesday after being activated from the bereavement list, went 0 for 4 in his first action since Friday. … RHP Kodai Senga (shoulder) felt good after throwing live batting practice Monday and is slated to do so again Saturday

UP NEXT

The four-game series concludes Thursday when Mets RHP Adrian Houser (0-3, 8.37 ERA) opposes Cubs RHP Ben Brown (0-1, 4.30 ERA).

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

New York Mets' Starling Marte tosses his bat after striking out to end the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs, Wednesday, May 1, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Chicago Cubs' Dansby Swanson (7) slides past New York Mets' Jeff McNeil (1) to steal second base during the seventh inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, May 1, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Chicago Cubs' Héctor Neris pitches during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets, Wednesday, May 1, 2024, in New York. The Cubs won 1-0. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

New York Mets' Pete Alonso (20) slides to home plate as Chicago Cubs catcher Miguel Amaya (9) catches the ball during the ninth inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, May 1, 2024, in New York. After further review Alonso was called out on the play. The Cubs won 1-0. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Chicago Cubs' Pete Crow-Armstrong loses control of the ball hit by New York Mets' J.D. Martinez for a double during the ninth inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, May 1, 2024, in New York. The Cubs won 1-0. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Chicago Cubs pitcher Héctor Neris, left, celebrates with teammate Nico Hoerner after a baseball game against the New York Mets, Wednesday, May 1, 2024, in New York. The Cubs won 1-0. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

New York Mets' Pete Alonso (20) slides to home plate as Chicago Cubs catcher Miguel Amaya (9) catches the ball during the ninth inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, May 1, 2024, in New York. After further review Alonso was called out on the play. The Cubs won 1-0. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Chicago Cubs catcher Miguel Amaya celebrates as New York Mets' Pete Alonso, center, reacts after being called out at home plate on a fly out by Jeff McNeil to end the baseball game, Wednesday, May 1, 2024, in New York. The Cubs won 1-0. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Chicago Cubs pitcher Shota Imanaga, of Japan, throws out New York Mets' Starling Marte at first base during the third inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, May 1, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Chicago Cubs' Shota Imanaga, of Japan, pitches during the second inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets, Wednesday, May 1, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

SYDNEY (AP) — Australian professional soccer was rocked Friday by accusations that the captain of A-League club Macarthur FC paid two younger teammates up to 10,000 Australian dollars ($6,600) to deliberately receive yellow cards in a scheme set up by a South American gambling connection.

Local media identified Macarthur team leader Ulises Davila and fellow players Kearyn Baccus and Clayton Lewis as the players arrested over their alleged involvement in the match-fixing scheme, which police say led to hundreds of thousands of dollars being paid out in winnings.

Authorities still want to interview a fourth player allegedly involved in the scheme, threatening to extradite him if he does not return to New South Wales state to face questioning.

Investigators allege yellow cards were manipulated during games played on Nov. 24 and Dec. 9. They also allege unsuccessful attempts were made to do similar during matches on April 20 and May 4.

Macarthur played out a 1-1 draw with Melbourne Victory on Nov. 24 before beating Sydney FC 2-0 on Dec. 9. All three players were given yellow cards in the Dec. 9 game against Sydney.

The team beat Sydney 1-0 on April 20 before being beaten 4-0 by Sydney FC in a playoff elimination game on May 4. Macarthur finished in fifth place during the regular season.

Police Assistant Commissioner Michael Fitzgerald said the players had “betrayed the trust of their supporters and the code."

“Yellow cards and the subsequent penalties that arise out of those yellow cards could change the result of that game,” he said a media conference Friday. ”$10,000 may seem a lot of money to a young sports person, (but) that is incredibly insignificant when you consider the damage that being charged with this offense and convicted results in.”

No further information was given about the South American gambling connection.

The southwest Sydney club said it was “shocked” by the allegations, which came after a six-month police investigation.

State police said the probe was launched in December 2023 with the help of Britain-based officials after suspicious betting patterns were identified.

Macarthur FC chief executive Sam Krslovic said the club was caught off-guard by the arrests but it would work with authorities, adding: "Integrity of our game is a foundation pillar and we will work closely with all relevant agencies on this matter.”

Australian Associated Press reported that Davila was arrested on Friday at South Coogee, in Sydney’s east, when police executed a search warrant as part of the investigation. Lewis was arrested in Parramatta and Baccus was arrested in Campbelltown, both western Sydney suburbs.

Davila is expected to be charged with two counts of engaging in conduct that corrupts a betting outcome of an event and two counts of facilitating conduct that corrupts a betting outcome of an event. The other two players will be charged with engaging in conduct that corrupts a betting outcome of an event.

Authorities said on Friday the players were yet to be charged and were still at police stations, but they were likely to be given bail before initial court appearances.

Football Australia said it was made aware of the arrests on Friday morning and was cooperating with the investigation.

Macarthur FC has been in the A-League men’s competition since the 2020-21 season. The league has 11 clubs based in Australia and one in New Zealand, with this season's grand final championship match scheduled for May 25.

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Macarthur FC player Clayton Lewis heads the ball during an A-League match against Sydney FC in Sydney, May 4, 2024. Lewis and fellow players Kearyn Baccus and Ulises Davila have been arrested, Friday, May 17, 2024, over their alleged involvement in a the betting fix, which police say has led to hundreds of thousands of dollars being paid out in winnings. (Mark Evans/AAP Image via AP)

Macarthur FC player Kearyn Baccus passes the ball during an A-League match Brisbane Roar in Brisbane on Jan. 18, 2024. Baccus and fellow players Ulises Davila and Clayton Lewis have been arrested, Friday, May 17, 2024, over their alleged involvement in a the betting fix, which police say has led to hundreds of thousands of dollars being paid out in winnings. (Darren England/AAP Image via AP)

Macarthur FC player Ulises Davila passes the ball during an A-League match against Melbourne City in Sydney, March 1, 2024. Davila and fellow players Kearyn Baccus and Clayton Lewis have been arrested, Friday, May 17, 2024, over their alleged involvement in a the betting fix, which police say has led to hundreds of thousands of dollars being paid out in winnings. (Mark Evans/AAP Image via AP)

Macarthur FC players prepare for the start of an A-League Men Elimination Final match against Sydney FC in Sydney, May 4, 2024. Three A-League players, believed to be from Macarthur FC, were arrested Friday, May 17, 2024, for alleged betting corruption after police claimed they manipulated the number of yellow cards they received in games last year, Football Australia said. (Mark Evans/AAP Image via AP)