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Mets hold off Cardinals to take 8-7 win

Since the start of last season, the Cardinals had been 47-3 when scoring seven or more runs.
Credit: AP
St. Louis Cardinals' Jose Martinez shouts toward the New York Mets' dugout while standing on first base during the eighth inning of a baseball game Saturday, June 15, 2019, in New York. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

After pulling off two late-inning comebacks in the first two games of the series against the Mets, the Cardinals had a chance to do it again on Saturday night in New York.

After twice trailing by five runs, the Cardinals had the tying or go-ahead run at the plate seven times in the eighth and ninth innings but this time saw their rally fall short.

Trailing 8-6, the Cardinals loaded the bases with two outs in the eighth on a single and two walks with Matt Carpenter coming to the plate, but the career .510 hitter with the bases loaded struck out.

In the ninth, an RBI single by Yadier Molina drove in Paul DeJong to cut the lead to 8-7 with two outs. Kolten Wong then hit a bloop double to short right field, but pinch-runner Jack Flaherty, trying to score from first base, was thrown out at the plate to end the game. Had he stopped at third, Paul Goldschmidt would have been the next hitter.

Since the start of last season, the Cardinals had been 47-3 when scoring seven or more runs. One of those losses came on April 15 this year, a 10-7 loss to the Brewers when Christian Yelich hit three homers and drove in seven runs.

Here is how the game broke down:

At the plate: The Cardinals trailed 6-1 after the second inning and 8-3 after the sixth before a three-run seventh cut the Mets lead to 8-6. Dexter Fowler, who had homered in the first inning, drove in his third run of the game with a single and the other RBIs came on a double from Carpenter and a sacrifice fly from DeJong. The inning ended when Marcell Ozuna lined into a double play … In the eighth, Wong singled with one out, Goldschmidt – who did not start – drew a walk and after Yairo Munoz struck out, Jose Martinez walked to load the bases for Carpenter … DeJong singled with one out in the ninth, his third hit of the game, and scored on Molina’s single to make it a one-run game … DeJong’s three hits left him 6-of-14 in the series.

On the mound: Michael Wacha was coming off six scoreless innings in his last start against the Marlins but didn’t fare as well in this game. The Mets scored five times in the first, three coming on a long home run from Peter Alonso, and added another run in the second. He did last through four innings, but gave up six or more runs for the fourth time in 13 games, including relief outings, this season … The Mets added their final two runs off Genesis Cabrera in the sixth.

Key stat: The Cardinals stole six bases in the game, their most since they stole seven against the Dodgers on May 21, 1999.Two of the steals were by Kolten Wong, who is now 13-of-13 for the season. Tommy Edman also stole his first base, the 14th Cardinal with at least one steal this season. In the first three games of the series the Cardinals have stolen 10 bases and have not had a runner thrown out … It was the most steals by the Cardinals against the Mets since they also stole six on June 7, 1988.

Worth noting: The five runs were the most allowed by the Cardinals in the first inning since the Pirates scored eight on Sept. 23, 2017 … It was the most runs scored by the Mets in the opening inning against the Cardinals since they also scored five against Andy Benes on May 23, 2000 … Alonso’s first-inning homer was measured at 458 feet, the longest hit against the Cardinals this season … Tyler O’Neill was placed on the seven day injured list at Memphis on Saturday because of a sore hamstring … Dylan Carlson hit his 10th home run for Springfield.

Looking ahead: Dakota Hudson will get the start on Sunday in the final game of the series and the 10-game road trip.

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