Cubs finish sweep of reeling Mets with late rally

Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong, a former Mets prospect, claimed he and his teammates weren’t too concerned about or aware of his ex-team’s woes.

One of the priciest teams in baseball, the Mets entered Sunday on a 10-game skid and already were fielding questions about the future of manager Carlos Mendoza and whether this season will be a chaotic failure.

Regardless of the opponent — or whether you entirely believe Crow-Armstrong didn’t know too much about what’s happening with the Mets — the Cubs say their focus is basically the same.

‘‘Like any team, we’re just looking to step on their throat and play our style of baseball,’’ Crow-Armstrong said. “Whatever happens with that happens. But we’re not really paying attention to any other team’s happenings or what state they’re in. It’s about us.’’

It’s better to be in the Cubs’ state, especially after they rallied for a 2-1 victory Sunday to sweep the Mets and extend their losing streak to 11 games.

Pinch hitter Michael Conforto, who played 757 games for the Mets in seven seasons, tied the score with a double down the right-field line in the ninth. Helped by Mets right fielder Tyrone Taylor, who struggled to pick up the ball in the corner, pinch runner Scott Kingery was able to score from first.

In the 10th, Crow-Armstrong was the Cubs’ free runner and advanced to third on a wild pitch by former Cubs and White Sox closer Craig Kimbrel. With one out, first base open and slumping Michael Busch on deck, Mendoza elected to have Kimbrel pitch to Nico Hoerner, whose fly to right brought in Crow-Armstrong and gave the Cubs their fifth consecutive victory.

The possibility of getting walked was on Hoerner’s mind, but he went up to the plate and got the ball into the air like he wanted.

‘‘I don’t know what goes into those decisions, but I’m glad I got the opportunity,’’ he said.

Conforto was more excited about what his hit meant to the Cubs, not any notions of revenge against his former team.

‘‘It’s a big swing for us, the first sweep of the year,’’ Conforto said. ‘‘The offense being held to no runs up to that point. Our pitchers putting on a performance against a team that’s fighting for their lives. Just a big moment. I was excited to be on the field [and] playing. It was a combination of everything.’’

That moment was made possible by the Cubs’ pitching, which picked up an offense that went 0-for-9 with runners in scoring position and left seven runners on base.

Making his first start since giving up nine runs in 4⅓ innings last Monday in Philadelphia, right-hander Javier Assad bounced back. He allowed a home run to MJ Melendez in the fifth that give the Mets a 1-0 lead but was sharp other than that.

‘‘After I watched the video [of the start in Philadelphia], you move past it,’’ Assad, who pitched 5‰ innings and gave up three hits, said through a translator. ‘‘It’s great to get a win.’’

Once Assad departed, the Cubs’ bullpen pitched 4⅓ scoreless innings. Jacob Webb replaced Assad in the sixth and struck out Francisco Lindor with a runner on third to keep the Cubs’ deficit at one, then threw a scoreless seventh. Riley Martin, Corbin Martin and Caleb Thielbar followed by making it through an inning apiece.

‘‘The story of the game was pitching; we pitched extremely well,’’ manager Craig Counsell said. ‘‘I’m proud of those guys. Definitely some confidence-building appearances for those guys.’’

The Mets don’t have that confidence. The Cubs do.