CHICAGO – A dropped third strike with two outs in the sixth inning turned the momentum to the New York Mets, and they went on to score two more runs in the seventh partly due to some suspect defense by the Chicago Cubs. Kris Bryant bobbled a ball and Kyle Schwarber dropped a line drive in left field, helping the Mets extend their lead. Javier Baez committed a first-inning error, and the Mets stole another base, giving them five in the series as they played better baseball for the third straight game, winning this one 5-2.

The lasting memory of Game 3 will be three consecutive curveballs thrown in the dirt by Cubs reliever Trevor Cahill with the lead run at third base. Catcher Miguel Montero blocked the first two, but the final one allowed Yoenis Cespedes to score, and the Mets never looked back as they took a commanding 3-0 lead in the National League Championship Series. The Cubs have been outplayed in all phases of the game.

Kyle Hendricks lasted four innings, giving up two runs, but one was yet another home run to Daniel Murphy. Hendricks left with the game tied 2-2. The Cubs stalled after scoring a couple of early runs as starter Jacob deGrom settled down and the Mets' bullpen kept the Cubs off the basepaths.

Thumbs-up: Schwarber hit his fifth postseason home run, becoming the Cubs' all-time leader in that category. He’s one behind Murphy for the lead in these playoffs.

Thumbs-down: The Cubs' defense let them down one too many times. Who knows if the moment got too big for them or they simply had an off night, but too many mistakes against a team not giving up a lot of runs is a recipe for disaster. There were no less than five defensive miscues that cost the Cubs in a big way.

What’s next: Only one team has come back from a 3-0 deficit, and that was Theo Epstein’s Boston Red Sox in 2004. The Cubs will send righty Jason Hammel to the mound to try to keep their season alive, but in reality anyone on the pitching staff might be available. Hammel lasted just three innings in his last start and for months now has been pulled early in games. With lefty Steven Matz on the mound for the Mets, Joe Maddon might shake up his lineup –- he might as well –- as the Cubs have scored just five runs in the series so far.