The New York Mets (41-49) lost 6-3 to the St.Louis Cardinals (45-47) on Monday night, in the first game of a four-game series.

Pitching: 

Zack Wheeler looked good through the first four innings, but ran into trouble in the fifth in which he allowed three walks.

In the sixth, he would allow an infield single to Yadier Molina and then a two-run homer to Paul DeJong (yes, again….). Kolten Wong would then hit a single up the middle to keep the rally going. He would get Magneuris Sierra to ground into a fielder’s choice to get Wong out, but Adam Wainwright would hit a double into the gap in right-center field to give the Cardinals a 3-1 lead.

Wheeler would be removed after that and would finish with a line of 5 1/3 IP, 3 ER, 4 BB, 5 SO, and 96 pitches. He has not collected a win since May 13th.

Josh Edgin would come into replace him and would walk Matt Carpenter and be replaced by Hansel Robles for his first appearance back from the minor leagues.

Robles would give up a three-run homer to Tommy Pham on the second pitch he threw, but he would get the next two guys out.

Paul Sewald, Jerry Blevins, and Erik Goeddel would combine to provide a clean three innings to stop the bleeding.

Hitting:

The Mets would have trouble scoring until the fifth inning when Michael Conforto would take a 2-0 fastball from Adam Wainwright to right-center field to give the Mets a 1-0 lead at the time.

The offense would not let up in the sixth either as Lucas Duda would hit a solo home run followed by a Jose Reyes double in which he would score on as a result of two errors made by outfielders Dexter Fowler and Magneurius Sierra.

The Mets would threaten in the ninth and get runners on the corners with one out. Yoenis Cespedes would swing at a pitch on a 3-0 count and hit into a double play to end the game, however.

Jose Reyes and Jay Bruce would both register two hits.

On Deck: 

The Mets will send Rafael Montero (1-5, 5.77 ERA) to the mound to face off against Michael Wacha (6-3, 4.10 ERA) in the second game of a four-game series against the St.Louis Cardinals.