Before the Mets could even get an at-bat on Wednesday evening, their chances of winning the game – and perhaps their playoff chances – came crashing down.

The Cardinals cashed in a huge first inning off Mets starter Tylor Megill, paving the way for a mostly stress-free 11-4 victory at Citi Field. With the win, the Cards swept the Mets into a Thursday day off while also pushing the Mets five games behind the final NL Wild Card spot.

Before Megill recorded an out, the first four St. Louis batters reached base. After two doubles and two walks, the Mets suddenly found themselves in a 2-0 hole with 27 outs still to record.

By the time Jonathan Villar led off in the first inning, the Cardinals lead had extended to 5-0. Unlike on Saturday when the Mets also trailed 5-0 early, this game seemed to be over within the first hour.

A solo shot by Pete Alonso to lead off the second inning put the Mets on the board. Alonso’s 33rd home run of 2021 was also the Mets first base runner of the game. But how much did it really matter? The Mets had little chance in this game after that disastrous first inning.

Even after Jeff McNeil scored on a fielding error in the third inning, the Cardinals answered right back. Harrison Bader launched a solo home run of his own to lead off the bottom half of the third, once again giving the Red Birds a four run advantage.

By this time, Megill was already out of the ballgame. He lasted just three innings, surrendering nine hits and six runs, walking an additional two batters as well. After a historically good July, Megill’s ERA has ballooned to 4.57 on the season.

The fifth inning brought a sliver of hope for the Mets. Singles by Jeff McNeil and J.D. Davis to open the inning were followed by a Villar sacrifice bunt, advancing both runners into scoring position. But in what should not be seen as a surprising development, Francisco Lindor struck out and Javier Baez sent a deep fly ball to deep center, just short enough of the wall for Bader to make the catch and end the scoring opportunity.

Kevin Pillar did his best to spark a Mets comeback. He sent a fastball into the left field seats in the sixth inning, a solo home run with two outs that cut the Cardinals lead to three runs.

Yet again, the Cardinals had an answer for any Mets rally. When Seth Lugo entered the game in the seventh, he allowed solo home runs to Paul Goldschmidt and Nolan Arenado. Those were the only baserunners he allowed all inning, but the damage was already done.

With four team home runs in their win, the Cardinals reached the four-homer mark for the fifth time this season.

By far the best Mets hitter on the night was Jeff McNeill. Batting eighth in the lineup, McNeil singled, doubled, and tripled, with his three-bagger being the first of three consecutive hits for New York. While they scored just one run in the inning, it was another missed opportunity, as the Mets ended the frame stranding runners on first and third.

Pete Alonso was a mere inches away from a three-run blast that would have narrowed the Cardinals lead to one run. Instead, Lars Nootbaar, who had just entered the game on a double-switch, reached his glove over the right field fence to bring back Alonso’s fly ball before it had a chance to fall over the fence.

Jose Peraza added an RBI single in his first game since returning from the injured list. Peraza had not played for the Mets since July 19 in Cincinnati.

If Nootbaar’s defensive wizardry was not enough to seal the St. Louis win, the lineup added three more runs in the top of the eighth to put the nail in the coffin.

After earning the sweep in New York, the Cardinals head back to Busch Stadium for one of their most important series of the season – a three-game set again the Padres, who narrowly trail the Cardinals in the NL Wild Card race.

The Mets resume play on Friday with three games against the Phillies. Still technically alive in the playoff race, it’s tough to imagine this Mets team showing up for this critical series after such a letdown of a week.

 Player of the Game:

On a night when the Mets had few positives, Jeff McNeil emerged as the team’s best hitter in their blowout loss. His three hits, including two which went for extra bases, led the team. Despite grounding out in his final at-bat, McNeil nearly became 11th Met in franchise history to hit for the cycle. He also scored two runs, good for half of the Mets team total.