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New York Mets Fall To St. Louis Cardinals Despite Zack Wheeler’s Solid Outing

By Michael Addvensky

MIAMI, FL - JUNE 27: Travis d'Arnaud
MIAMI, FL - JUNE 27: Travis d'Arnaud /
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New York Mets
ST. LOUIS, MO – JULY 8: Zack Wheeler /

The New York Mets lost to the St. Louis Cardinals 4-1 on Saturday afternoon in St. Louis. Zack Wheeler had a good outing, but did not get much run support from his team.

After collecting nine hits and scoring six runs during Friday night’s 6-5 victory against the Cardinals, the Mets’ offense went quiet on Saturday.

The Mets did not really have any answers for Cardinals starting pitcher Adam Wainwright. They

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only mustered one hit off of him through the first four innings.

The Cardinals took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third inning on a solo home run by Paul DeJong. Mets starter Zack Wheeler pitched relatively well after that. He did not allow another run until the sixth inning, when Yadier Molina hit an RBI-double.

Wheeler was able to get through the rest of the sixth inning unscathed. Overall, he had a good start. He allowed two earned runs on eight hits and only gave up one walk while recording five strikeouts.

This was definitely Wheeler’s best outing in the past month.

Before this start, the last time he pitched past the fourth inning was on June 7 against the Texas Rangers. He had two very rough performances in a row against the Chicago Cubs and Los Angeles Dodgers. He then landed on the 10-day disabled list due to biceps tendinitis in his right arm. In his first start back from the DL, Wheeler did not allow any earned runs, but only lasted 3.2 innings.

Unfortunately, Wheeler did not get any run support. He left with his team trailing 2-0. In the top of the seventh inning, the Mets were finally able to score a run off of Wainwright.

Jay Bruce hit a solo home run to right field, cutting the Cardinals lead to 2-1. A few batters later, Jose Reyes came to the plate with T.J. Rivera on first base and two outs in the inning. He

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singled to right field, brining Travis d’Arnaud up with two on and two out.

This was the Mets best chance of the afternoon to tie the game, or even take the lead. Cardinals manager Mike Matheny decided to take Wainwright out, and brought in Matt Bowan to face d’Arnaud. This move worked out well for the Cardinals, as Bowman got d’Arnaud to pop out.

After that, the Mets were not able to get a substantial rally going. The Cardinals added an insurance run in the bottom of the seventh inning on an RBI-single by Stephen Piscotty. They scored off of the Mets bullpen again in the eighth inning when DeJong doubled home Alex Mejia.

In the ninth inning, the Mets were able to get a couple of guys on base against Cardinals closer Seung-Hwan Oh. After back-to-back one-out singles by Bruce and Rivera, Lucas Duda came to the plate representing the tying run.

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He hit a hard line-drive to left field, but it was unfortunately right to Cardinals left fielder Randal Grichuk. The next batter was Reyes, and he flied out to center field on the first pitch he saw, ending the game.

In the end, Wheeler’s solid performance was wasted, as the Mets lineup had an off-day. They will try and take the rubber game of the series against the Cardinals on Sunday afternoon in what will be their final game before the All-Star break. Steven Matz will be on the hill for the Mets, while  Lance Lynn will go for the Cardinals.  

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