CHICAGO -- Top prospect Noah Syndergaard flashed brilliance in his major league debut.
However, with his pitch count driven up by a sloppy fielding behind him, Syndergaard ultimately faltered and the New York Mets lost to the Chicago Cubs, 6-1, on Tuesday night at Wrigley Field.
Syndergaard matched zeroes with Jake Arrieta into the sixth inning. The 6-foot-6 righty then surrendered a leadoff single to Jorge Soler. Starlin Castro followed with a run-scoring double into the left-field corner on a hanging slider. Chris Coghlan provided a three-run lead by blasting a two-run homer.
Syndergaard remained in to record one more out, then departed with his pitch count at a season-high 103. He allowed three earned runs on six hits and four walks in 5 1/3 innings. He struck out six and uncorked one wild pitch. He threw 56 strikes.
Arrieta, meanwhile, took a one-hit shutout bid into the eighth. He then surrendered a pair of singles, followed by a sacrifice fly to Kevin Plawecki. Arrieta had faced the minimum through seven innings.
The Mets dropped to 20-13.
Flashing a 98 mph fastball and accumulating strikeouts with a curveball that manager Terry Collins once labeled the "hook from hell," Syndergaard breezed into the third inning. He was poised to get out of that frame in perfect fashion until third baseman Daniel Murphy casually threw to first base after fielding rookie phenom Kris Bryant's grounder. Bryant hustled and beat out the nonchalant throw for an infield single.
The lackluster play resulted in Syndergaard throwing an extra 18 pitches that inning. He walked the next two batters to load the bases before coaxing a full-count flyout to right field from Soler on a 98 mph fastball.
Syndergaard also escaped trouble in the fifth. Bryant delivered a one-out triple, but ultimately was stranded there when Syndergaard fanned Miguel Montero with a 97 mph fastball.
The Mets gave Syndergaard no support anyway.
Curtis Granderson walked for the second time in the game to open the fourth inning. Murphy then delivered the Mets' first hit -- a single into the left-field corner. Granderson inexplicably tried to advance to third base on the play and was thrown out. Michael Cuddyer followed by grounding into an inning-ending double play.
Syndergaard will get at least one more start before Dillon Gee (groin) is eligible to return from the disabled list. Syndergaard is due to face the Milwaukee Brewers on Sunday at Citi Field.
Walks in the park: Alex Torres' control issues continued Tuesday. After relieving Syndergaard in the sixth and retiring the first batter he faced, Torres issued three consecutive walks and eventually was charged with a run as the Cubs grabbed a 4-0 lead.
Torres has walked six batters and recorded four outs in his past three appearances. He walked 5.5 batters per game last season with the San Diego Padres.
What's next: Matt Harvey Day! Harvey (5-1, 2.72 ERA) opposes right-hander Jason Hammel (3-1, 3.52) at 8:05 p.m. ET on Wednesday.