Jeremy Hefner started the game and while he was charged with six runs, only one of them were earned. He let up eight hits and walked two in 7.0 innings pitched while striking out two. One of the hits was a three-run blast by Allen Craig in the fifth.
Greg Burke allowed two unearned runs in the sixth inning and David Aardsma allowed a solo home run to Shane Robinson in the eighth inning to complete the Cardinals nine-run output.
Sloppy game defensively for the Mets who had two critical errors; one by Daniel Murphy who was making his first start of the season at first base, and another by Kirk Nieuwenhuis who misjudged a flyball in right field. In baseball, the ball always finds you.
All of the Mets scoring came in the first inning on a solo homer by Omar Quintanilla, his second, and a sac fly by Marlon Byrd to score David Wright. Jordany Valdespin played second, batted leadoff and had two of the Mets five hits in the game.
The Mets are now 13 games under .500 with a 23-36 record. They allowed seven unearned runs for the first time since 2008. Just another awful game from the Mets who look lifeless right now.
Quick note: Matt Harvey (back tightness) threw his routine between-starts bullpen session on Tuesday without issue. Harvey remains on track to start Thursday against the Cardinals.
Dillon Gee (4-6, 5.20 ERA) opposes Cardinals phenom Shelby Miller (7-2, 1.91 ERA) in the second game of the series which begins at 7:10 p.m. tomorrow.
