ST. LOUIS — Pinch-hitter Dominic Smith hustled for an infield single that drove in two pivotal runs, and the Mets capitalized on an uncharacteristic error by Gold Glove third baseman Nolan Arenado to rally for 5 unearned runs with two outs within the ninth inning of a 5-2 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals on Monday evening.
After the hit by Smith gave the Mets the lead, Brandon Nimmo capped the outburst with a two-run homer.
Mets 5, Cardinals 2 | Box Score | Play-by-Play
Max Scherzer had struck out 10 over seven innings of two-hit ball in a scoreless duel with Cardinals starter Miles Mikolas. A two-run single by Tyler O’Neill off Trevor May (1-0) put St. Louis forward within the eighth.
The Mets have been all the way down to their last strike when Mark Canha hit a grounder to 3rd. Arenado, awarded a Gold Glove in every of his 9 main league seasons, fielded the ball cleanly behind the bag however took his time making an off-balance throw to first.
The ball sailed excessive for an error that allowed Eduardo Escobar to attain from second, making it 2-1. Canha was credited with an infield single.
Jeff McNeil doubled, sending pinch-runner Travis Jankowski to 3rd, and Smith hit a sharp one-hopper that was snagged by sprawling first baseman Paul Goldschmidt behind the bag.
But nearer Giovanny Gallegos (0-1) was late masking first, and Smith beat him to the bag with a headfirst dive. McNeil by no means stopped coming round third and slid in safely on the plate forward of Gallegos’ throw, giving the fired-up Mets a 3-2 lead.
Nimmo then lofted the primary pitch from lefty reliever T.J. McFarland over the fence within the right-field nook.
Edwin Díaz bought three outs for his second save, rebounding after he gave up a tying homer with two outs within the ninth inning Friday evening at Arizona.
Pitching in his hometown, Scherzer reached double digits in strikeouts for the 106th time — which ranks fifth on the profession chart. In his first season with the Mets since signing a $130 million, three-year contract, the three-time Cy Young Award winner has 33 strikeouts and eight walks in 25 innings.
DeGrom Said to Have ‘Considerable Healing’
After the sport, the Mets mentioned injured ace Jacob deGrom had an M.R.I. and CT scan that “revealed considerable healing of the stress reaction on his scapula.” The two-time Cy Young Award winner was cleared to start “loading and strengthening” of his proper shoulder and can endure one other M.R.I. in about three weeks. He is anticipated to be sidelined till not less than June.
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