Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

The New York Mets hosted the St. Louis Cardinals at Citi Field on Tuesday evening for Game 2 of a day-night doubleheader. The Mets looked to sweep the day after a 3-1 win in the afternoon against familiar face Steven Matz, who received the nod for St. Louis. Matz and the Cardinals came out on top, though, by the score of 4-3 in the nightcap.

Following an exceptional start against the Washington Nationals his last time around, Taijuan Walker took the ball for the Mets. Looking to get himself into a rhythm, Walker began his night strong by striking out three Cardinals’ hitters over the course of the first three innings, allowing just one hit and no runs, bringing his consecutive scoreless streak to 10 innings dating back to his last start.

Mark Canha kicked off the Mets’ scoring by turning on a Matz 95-mph inside-fastball. His solo shot cleared the old Citi Field left field wall, giving the Mets an early 1-0 lead. After the home run, Matz retired the next seven batters across three innings before Brandon Nimmo slapped a double down the left field line. Canha stepped back into the box with Nimmo on second, but flew out to end the inning, granting Matz no further damage.

Brendan Donovan led things off for St. Louis in the top of the fourth inning by lining a single into center field. Four-time Silver Slugger winner Paul Goldschmidt tomahawked a double into the left field corner past the running Canha to bring Donovan in for the Cardinals first run of the night. Corey Dickerson singled on a line drive, advancing Goldschmidt to third with one out. Walker was able to get out of trouble by striking out the slumping Tyler O’Neill and forcing Edmundo Sosa to groundout to end the inning. It was a tie ballgame through three and a half innings.

With two outs in the bottom of the fourth inning, Eduardo Escobar homered to right-center field, taking a Matz changeup into the Cardinals bullpen, and giving the Mets a one-run lead.

The Cardinals would answer back with two runs in the top of the fifth inning off a pair of extra base hits. Second baseman Tommy Edman tripled into the right field corner, allowing Andrew Knizner to score. With runners on first and third, Goldschmidt lined a double into the gap–his second in as many innings–bringing in Edman to score. Cardinals took a 3-2 lead.

Walker finished the day tossing five innings and four strikeouts, while allowing seven hits, two walks on three earned runs. He showed promise early in the game but ran into trouble in both the fourth and fifth inning. Walker tallied over 50 total pitches in his last two innings of work, bringing his pitch count to 94 on the night. All in all, he kept the Mets in the game even if it wasn’t the prettiest of starts.

Matz’s night also came to an end after five innings. He struck out seven Mets’ hitters, allowing three hits, no walks, and a pair of solo home runs.

The Mets offense woke back up in the sixth inning, loading the bases for Eduardo Escobar with one down. Escobar, who homered off Matz earlier in the nightcap, struck out swinging at a Genesis Cabrera curveball. On the very next pitch, Jeff McNeil got jammed and popped up into foul territory down the third base line, where Donavan was there to squeeze the third out. A disappointing outcome for the Mets offense after being offered a prime opportunity to tie or regain the lead.

Twenty-three-year-old right-hander Adonis Medina followed up Walker with 2 and 2/3 scoreless innings out of the pen for the Mets. He allowed three singles and struck out two before being replaced by Joely Rodriguez with one out to go in the bottom of the eighth. Rodriguez was able to get Edman to roll over to shortstop to end the inning, stranding two runners on and keeping the Cardinals lead to just one run.

The Mets offense would receive another chance to even things up in the eighth inning. After Francisco Lindor walked and Escobar reached safely on a dropped third strike, McNeil punched a base knock into left field allowing Lindor to come around to score from second base. McNeil cashed in on the two out scoring opportunity to tie the game at three.

Rodriguez came back out to start the ninth and immediately got into trouble, allowing two walks–one of which got to third base via stolen base and passed ball. Adam Ottavino relieved Rodriguez and struck out former team Nolan Arenado, but Escobar bobbled a check-swing grounder by Tyler O’Neill next and allowed a run to score.

Despite a few ninth-inning opportunities against Giovanny Gallegos, the Mets offense came up short. They could not get the timely hit they were seeking for, combining to go 1-7 with runners in scoring position.

Player of the Game: Adonis Medina

Medina came into the game with the Mets trailing by one in the sixth inning. He settled in nicely with a pair of strikeouts and held the Cardinals at three runs. He hurled 21 strikes out of a total 33 pitches in relief. He has yet to allow a run in six innings of work this season, quietly becoming a suitable option out of the Mets bullpen. He kept the Mets in the game tonight.

On Deck

The Mets host the Cardinals on Wednesday night at 7:10 p.m. where Max Scherzer will face off against flame-thrower Jordan Hicks. Scherzer and the Mets will look to get back into the win column after splitting the day/night doubleheader on Tuesday. Wednesday’s game will be game three of four in opposition of St. Louis.