NEW YORK -- OK, maybe there is some magic happening on the Chicago Cubs.

How else can you explain them keeping their heads above water despite a historic drought at the plate? After Wednesday's 2-0 win over the New York Mets in 11 innings the Cubs are 3-5 over their last eight games -- while scoring no more than two runs in any contest. According to ESPN Stats and Information, that's tied for second longest streak of its kind in franchise history. The last time it happened the Cubs went 1-7.

"It was just one of those nights again," manager Joe Maddon said afterwards.

Consider: Anthony Rizzo stole third base in the 9th inning with one out, but was left stranded. In the 11th inning, with Rizzo on third again, Starlin Castro barely put wood on the ball as it rolled to Mets third baseman Daniel Murphy while the Cubs shortstop busted down the line to beat the throw. Rizzo crossed the plate with the game's first and eventual winning run. Then Justin Grimm got out of a jam in the bottom of the inning for his first career save.

Now that's magic.

"Give Starlin some credit," Maddon said. "Slow roller to third, he beats that out legitimately. … The bullpen was fabulous."

The Cubs are undefeated since Simon the magician from Las Vegas performed for them before Tuesday's game. His magic might be rubbing off on the pitching staff. After a second consecutive shutout, Cubs hurlers have thrown 23 consecutive scoreless innings going back to Sunday's game in St. Louis. According to ESPN Stats and Information, that's the most since throwing 26 scoreless at the end of the 2010 season.

"We're a little bit challenged offensively, a lot of times teams will sink because of it, we have not," Maddon said.

They've been saved by their staff. Jon Lester picked up where Kyle Hendricks left off the day before, throwing seven shutout innings and then the bullpen went to work. Jason Motte had another 1-2-3 inning while Pedro Strop got out of a jam on a botched squeeze play by the Mets while Grimm got a called third strike to end the game. The Cubs are making their magic with that kind of pitching.

"That's awesome," Lester said of the scoreless streak. "Everyone is executing pitches when they have to … . We've had some roles switched around a little bit. No one has complained or put their head down. That's a hard thing to do in this profession. Put your pride aside and worry about the greater good."

And they're all performing. It wasn't long ago that Neil Ramirez was needed to save the relief staff. On Wednesday, Maddon didn't want to use him in a high leverage situation as he's still getting back to form after an injury. Think about that luxury. In a 0-0 game the Cubs didn't need one of their best relievers.

As for Castro, fair or not he's been called "lazy" more than once in his career but Wednesday he took Maddon's first message of spring training to heart.

"We're always talking respect 90," he said.

That's the 90 ft from home to first if you didn't know. It's the only "rule" Maddon has -- after all, magicians are allowed in the clubhouse and the players have postgame disco parties after wins. The locker room after Wednesday's victory, though, had all "magic songs" playing. In Maddon's office it was more of The Lovin' Spoonful's "Do you believe in Magic?" while outfielder Chris Denorfia was in charge of the music in the clubhouse. The playlist included The Cars' "Magic," Steve Miller Band "Abracadabra and "a song from the Pitch Perfect soundtrack," Denorfia explained.

Wednesday's victory put the Cubs back in a wild card spot as they approach the halfway point of the season. Now that would be magical if they made the postseason. Lester was asked if he has some magic on the mound on Wednesday.

"We all did," he laughed. "I'll use anything we can get right now."