CHICAGO (Interstat) — The Chicago Cubs’ offense erupted early and often, and the New York Mets’ defensive miscues proved costly as the Cubs cruised to a 12-4 victory in the opener of a three-game series at a chilly Wrigley Field on Friday evening.

A crowd of 34,282 watched the Cubs improve to 10-9, while the Mets fell to a dismal 7-13, having lost eight of their last nine contests.

The tone was set decisively in the very first inning. After Mets starter Kodai Senga navigated a walk and a single to put two on with two outs, he appeared poised to escape unscathed following a strikeout of Ian Happ. But Seiya Suzuki lined a single to right to score Michael Busch, and rookie designated hitter Moisés Ballesteros followed by launching a three-run homer to left field, staking the Cubs to an immediate 4-0 lead.

Ballesteros, a key performer for Chicago, finished 2-for-4 with the three RBIs.

The Mets, however, responded in the top of the second against Cubs starter Edward Cabrera. Francisco Alvarez and MJ Melendez singled, and Marcus Semien drove them both in with a double to left. After a strikeout, Tyrone Taylor lined a two-run single to center, tying the game at 4-4. Taylor was thrown out trying to stretch the hit into a double, halting the rally.

The tie was short-lived. In the bottom of the frame, Nico Hoerner answered for Chicago, crushing a two-run homer to left after a Dansby Swanson walk, putting the Cubs back ahead 6-4. Hoerner went 3-for-5 with the home run and three RBIs.

The Cubs extended their lead in the fourth without the benefit of a hard-hit ball. Swanson and Hoerner singled, and Busch reached on an infield single to load the bases with one out. After a lineout, Ian Happ reached on a fielding error by Mets first baseman Brett Baty, allowing Swanson to score for a 7-4 advantage.

The game remained tight until the seventh, when the Cubs broke it open against the Mets’ bullpen. Suzuki doubled and was driven in by a Matt Shaw double. After a Carson Kelly single and a walk loaded the bases, Dansby Swanson lifted a sacrifice fly to left. Tyrone Taylor’s throwing error on the play allowed not only Kelly to score but also the trailing runner, Pete Crow-Armstrong, who came all the way around from first as the ball skipped away, making it 10-4.

Chicago capped the scoring in the eighth when Ian Happ launched a two-run homer to left off reliever Huascar Brazobán, his fifth of the year, scoring Busch who had singled.

The Mets managed a final run in the eighth on an RBI single by Alvarez, but they squandered a bigger opportunity. With runners on the corners and one out, Mark Vientos grounded into an inning-ending double play.

New York out-hit Chicago 14-14 but grounded into three double plays and had a runner thrown out on the bases. Francisco Lindor and Marcus Semien each had three hits for the Mets in the losing effort.

Cabrera (2-0) earned the win for Chicago, working five innings and allowing four runs on eight hits with two walks and three strikeouts. The Cubs’ bullpen, led by scoreless outings from Hoby Milner and Riley Martin, combined for four innings of one-run relief.

Senga (0-3) took the loss for New York, lasting just four innings. He was charged with seven runs, six earned, on eight hits with three walks and four strikeouts. His ERA ballooned to 8.27 through his first four starts.

The victory defied the pregame projections, which had the Cubs as moderate favorites but with an expected total far lower than the 16 combined runs scored. The teams will continue the series Saturday afternoon.