NEW YORK – – Paul Goldschmidt and Nolan Arenado each hit one of four St. Louis home runs, and the Cardinals showed fantastic outfield defense as they beat the New York Mets 11-4 Wednesday night for their fifth consecutive victory.
Harrison Bader hit a homerun, produced three runs and made a timely grab at the fence of center court to help Jon Lester improve his record to 9-1 against the Mets. Edmundo Sosa also went deep and Goldschmidt had three hits as the Cardinals completed a three-game sweep winning their seventh in eight games.
St. Louis, who jumped to the playoff position Tuesday night for the first time since May 30, edged the Reds 1 1/2 games for the NL’s second wild card thanks to Cincinnati’s 5-4 loss to Pittsburgh, last place. The Cardinals started the game the first day before San Diego, which later started in San Francisco.
Pete Alonso and Kevin Pillar scored for the Waning Mets, who appear to have finished the pennant race with 15 games to go. They have lost five games behind St. Louis, with three teams in between.
Tyler O’Neill scored a two-point brace in a five-point first inning against rookie Tylor Megill (3-5), who had just had an exceptional start against the Yankees.
Running on 0-2 ground, Sosa scored all the way to the first goal on Bader’s bloop, a two-run single down center.
New York had a few chances to come back, but Bader and substitute right fielder Lars Nootbaar managed to pull the clutch off.
The quick Bader sprinted to the wall near the 408-foot board and let his feet a bit to hook up Javier Báez’s long haul with two to finish the fifth.
Nootbaar, moments after entering defense in a double change, deprived Alonso of a three-run homerun to keep him 8-4 in the seventh.
Lester (6-6) allowed three runs – two earned – and six hits in six innings. The 37-year-old southpaw struck out seven and didn’t walk, raising his record to 3-1 in nine outings for St. Louis since his July 30 trade with Washington.
TRAINERS ‘ROOM
Cardinals: RHP Jack Flaherty will likely throw around 20 to 25 shots Thursday in his first reliever box since stretching his right shoulder in late August. St. Louis is still hoping that the front row starter (9-2, 3.08 ERA) can offer something of relief at some point this year. “He’s ready to do whatever it takes. He just wants to present and contribute, ”manager Mike Shildt said. … RHP Dakota Hudson (Tommy John surgery) will aim to throw about 75 pitches in a rehab start on Friday, her first for Triple-A Memphis after four with Double-A Springfield.
Mets: CF Brandon Nimmo is expected to return to the injured list Friday night against Philadelphia, two weeks after stretching his right hamstrings. … Noah Syndergaard threw about 15-20 shots at Nimmo and could have another live batting workout before heading off on a minor league rehab assignment. Syndergaard was a bit below the mid-90s (mph) with his fastpitch, manager Luis Rojas said, but was not going “full”. The right-hander was slowed down in his recovery from Tommy John surgery in March 2020 by a sore elbow and a positive COVID-19 test. He hopes to return to a relief role before the end of the season. … Reserve player José Peraza has been reinstated on the 10-day injured list. Peraza had been absent since July 20 with a broken middle finger on his right hand. OF Albert Almora Jr. was chosen as an option for the Triple-A Syracuse.
FOLLOWING
Cardinals: Depart Thursday before opening a pivotal three-game home series Friday night against San Diego, a close contender for the wilds. RHP Miles Mikolas (0-2, 5.47 ERA) starts against his former team, seeking his first major league victory in two years. St. Louis will also be celebrating the 10th anniversary of its 2011 World Series championship this weekend.
Mets: RHP Taijuan Walker (7-9, 4.29 ERA) throws Friday night at Citi Field against ex-Met Zack Wheeler (13-9, 2.86) and the Phillies.
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