The Mets (25-14) brought home an 11-4 triumph against the Cardinals (20-17) in the third of a four-game series on Wednesday evening. The win was backed by 11 runs scored and 11 hits by New York batters, including a three-run blast by Pete Alonso.
Despite the impressive offensive showing, the evening was overshadowed by Max Scherzer‘s concerning exit in the middle of a battle against Albert Pujols in the sixth inning after tossing 87 pitches. The team has announced that Scherzer will undergo imaging on Thursday morning for discomfort in his left side.
With a slew of injuries to the Mets’ staff including ace Jacob deGrom, and right-hander Tylor Megill, who can arguably be dubbed the club’s big three, fans are hoping that Scherzer’s injury won’t cost him time on the bench.
New York took an early lead with two runs scored in the first inning. The Mets loaded the bases via a walk, single, and hit by pitch, and Jeff McNeil kicked off the scoring with a two-RBI single. St. Louis responded with a pair of runs, one unearned, in the second off of Mets’ starter Max Scherzer. Cardinals right fielder Juan Yepez reached on a throwing error by Eduardo Escobar, and Scherzer subsequently allowed a double and pair of singles to tie it up, 2-2.
New York took back the lead in the fifth and tacked on four more runs. Mark Canha led off with a walk, Francisco Lindor was hit by a pitch, and a trio of singles from Alonso, McNeil, Dominic Smith, and clutch sacrifices from both Escobar and Luis Guillorme put the damage on.
Scherzer allowed just those two runs through 5 and 2/3 innings pitched. He gave up seven hits and struck out four. Scherzer exited the game in the sixth inning with discomfort in his left side, and Adam Ottavino entered in relief to get the last out of the inning with two outs and two on for Albert Pujols.
Ottavino tossed a scoreless seventh, and Seth Lugo took the mound for the eighth. Lugo gave up a two-run homer to Nolan Arenado to make it 6-4 New York.
Lucky for Lugo, Arenado’s home run was quickly forgotten as New York put up a five-spot in the home half of the eighth. Nimmo and Mark Canha both drove home a run and Alonso capped off the 11-4 win with a three-run blast for his ninth homer and National League-leading 33rd RBI of the season.
Player of the Game
Pete Alonso earns Wednesday’s honor with a 2-for-4 appearance at the plate with four RBI and a home run. Honorable mention to Jeff McNeil, who went 2-for-5 with two RBI in his 14th multi-hit game of the year.
On Deck
New York will look to take the series in the fourth and final game against St. Louis on Thursday afternoon. Chris Bassitt (4-2, 2.34 ERA) will face off with Cardinals’ right-hander Dakota Hudson (3-2, 3.06 ERA). In his last outing, Bassitt allowed just one run on five hits through five and 2/3 innings in a 5-4 win against the Mariners. Hudson last faced the Giants and brought home a win after tossing five scoreless frames. Fans can catch the action in Queens at 1:10 p.m. ET on SNY or WCBS 880.
