Carson Kelly's pinch-hit, 3-run HR sends Cubs to 4th consecutive victory

Cubs manager Craig Counsell pushed back on the suggestion that pinch-hitting for the left-handed-hitting Moises Ballesteros against a left-hander pitcher risks messing with the 22-year-old’s mind, feelings and development.

‘‘This is a team,’’ Counsell said. ‘‘And we’re going to put players in positions to have success, and that trumps the other thing.’’

That was Saturday morning — before Counsell called on catcher Carson Kelly to pinch-hit for Ballesteros against Mets left-hander Brooks Raley with two on and two outs in the sixth inning of a tie game hours later.

Counsell got the righty-against-lefty matchup he preferred, and Kelly was ready, launching Raley’s first pitch into the bleachers for the second pinch home run of his career to fuel the Cubs to a 4-2 victory and extend their winning streak to four games.

‘‘Pinch-hitting is a hard thing to do,’’ Counsell said. ‘‘You go up there and say you’re going to be aggressive, and he got a good pitch to hit. You have to get your swings off.’’

It can be hard to be pinch-hit for, but such is life in the majors, as the sweet-swinging, red-hot Ballesteros is learning fast. Right-handed-hitting Matt Shaw batted for him in the Cubs’ 12-4 victory Friday after Ballesteros had two hits, including a homer. He is batting .381, easily the best average among rookies in the majors. He had another hit Saturday and is 10-for-12 with two homers and a double in his last six games.

But Kelly, who was staying warm and preparing behind the scenes, was the right man for the job against Raley.

‘‘Heck of a job managing there,’’ said outfielder Ian Happ, whose sixth homer of the season in the second provided the Cubs’ first run against tough right-hander Freddy Peralta. ‘‘Pinch-hit three-run homer, that’s a good day for the manager.’’

‘‘There are no training wheels,’’ Counsell said. ‘‘We’re going with the best matchups.’’

The Cubs (11-9) will go for a series sweep Sunday against the Mets (7-14), who have lost a staggering 10 consecutive games, their longest skid since 2004. The Cubs are winning with contributions up and down the lineup and from a bench Counsell is getting the most out of.

‘‘Guys are prepared, they know their role and they are expecting to play every day,’’ Kelly said.

And winning helps everyone — from Rookie of the Year candidates such as Ballesteros to veterans such as Kelly — to buy in.

‘‘It’s good when you have success doing it,’’ Counsell said. ‘‘That’s No. 1. And it makes everybody feel ready and feel part of it and know they’re going to get their turn at some point to get the big hit.’’

Right-hander Jameson Taillon yielded one run in six innings, allowing a homer to Mark Vientos in the second. Right-hander Ben Brown gave up an unearned run in two innings of relief, and left-hander Caleb Thielbar struck out two in a perfect ninth, pounding the zone with 11 strikes in 14 pitches to earn the save with closer Daniel Palencia (strained oblique) on the injured list.

The save was the sixth of Thielbar’s career and second with the Cubs.

But Kelly, who is batting .340, was the hero, and he extended his on-base streak to 14 games since March 30. He’s batting .372 with two homers, three doubles and nine RBI during that stretch.

‘‘Just looking for a good pitch to drive there,’’ he said. ‘‘Staying prepared to get that call and make a good swing when the pitch is there. It was cool. Very special.

‘‘This is a special group, and it’s a culture we’ve developed. We pride ourselves on the next guy up, and we’re here to win baseball games.’’