CHICAGO (Interstat) — In a pivotal late-season clash at a packed Wrigley Field, the New York Mets authored their largest comeback of the year, erasing a five-run deficit to stun the Chicago Cubs 9-7 on Tuesday night.

The victory, played before 35,729 fans in two hours and fifty-seven minutes, propelled the Mets one game ahead of the Cincinnati Reds for the third National League wild-card spot after the Reds lost to Pittsburgh. New York improved to 81-76, while the Cubs, fighting to solidify their own playoff positioning, fell to 88-69.

The game turned on one swing in the eighth inning. With the score tied at 7, Mets catcher Francisco Alvarez crushed a two-out, two-run homer to center field off Cubs reliever Caleb Thielbar (3-4). The blast scored Brett Baty, who had led off the inning with a single, and provided the final margin.

The win was a dramatic reversal of fortune after the Cubs had seized early control. Francisco Lindor gave the Mets an immediate lead, launching the game’s first pitch from Cubs starter Cade Horton for his 29th home run of the season.

Chicago responded forcefully in the bottom of the first against Mets left-hander David Peterson. After a single and a stolen base by Nico Hoerner, Carlos Santana ripped a two-run double to right field, putting the Cubs ahead 2-1.

They extended their lead with a three-run second inning. Hoerner delivered an RBI single to score Justin Turner, and Ian Happ followed with a two-run double down the left-field line, plating Matt Shaw and Hoerner to make it 5-1.

A Mets error helped the Cubs add another run in the fourth. Hoerner reached on a fielder’s choice and advanced to second on a throwing error by second baseman Jeff McNeil. He then scored when Happ reached on another error by McNeil, increasing the Chicago advantage to 6-1.

The Mets’ offense, dormant after the first, erupted for five runs in the fifth inning to tie the game. Lindor drove in the first run with a groundout, and Pete Alonso followed with an RBI single. Brandon Nimmo then completed the stunning rally, connecting for a three-run homer, his 25th of the year, to right field off reliever Drew Pomeranz, knotting the score at 6.

New York briefly took the lead in the sixth. McNeil doubled and later scored on a sharp RBI single by Lindor, giving the Mets a 7-6 edge.

The back-and-forth affair continued in the bottom of the sixth, as the Cubs answered immediately. Seiya Suzuki lined a single to center off Mets reliever Tyler Rogers, scoring Hoerner to tie the game at 7 and set the stage for Alvarez’s late heroics.

The Mets’ bullpen, after some early struggles, was dominant in securing the win. Brooks Raley (3-0) recorded the final out of the seventh inning to earn the victory. Most impressively, closer Edwin Díaz was nearly untouchable, striking out five over two perfect innings of relief to record his 27th save of the season. Huascar Brazobán also provided critical stability with 2 2/3 scoreless innings in the middle of the game.

For the Cubs, Horton lasted just three innings, allowing one run on two hits. Thielbar took the loss, unable to preserve the tie in the eighth.

The result defied the pregame projections, as Interstat’s game simulator had predicted a 5-4 Cubs victory, and their ELO system gave Chicago a 56 percent probability to win. The Cubs had also been installed as 1.5-run favorites. The combined 16 runs sailed over the pregame over/under line of 7.5.

The two teams will continue their critical three-game series on Wednesday night at Wrigley Field. The Mets will look to build on their momentum and strengthen their wild-card hold, while the Cubs aim to rebound and maintain their standing in the playoff race.