The Mets defeated the Cardinals 4-2 at Busch Stadium in the Mets’ first road game of the year.
Francisco Lindor led off the game against Kyle Leahy and continued his aggressive early season play, legging out a triple to right field. Bo Bichette would drive him in with a ground out to put the Mets on the board early.
Clay Holmes started the day off by walking JJ Wetherholt, who would advance to second on a ground out, third on a balk, and then score on a Alec Burleson single, tying the game at one apiece.
From there, both starters would settle down a bit, but both teams continued to threaten. The Mets put pressure in the second when they had two on and two out before Francisco Alvarez would strike out to end the threat. In the bottom of the third, Holmes gave up a double to Burleson and then walked Masyn Winn, but was able to induce a ground out from Nolan Gorman to end the inning.
The Mets added their second run in the top of the fifth, when Bichette notched his second RBI of the game, driving in Carson Benge to put the Mets up 2-1. They would tack on in the top of the sixth when Jared Young doubled home Brett Baty. That would do it for Leahy, who left the game with no outs in the sixth. Matt Svanson relieved him, and got two quick outs before things fell apart a bit for Svanson. Alvarez walked, Lindor was hit by a pitch, and the bases were loaded for Juan Soto. Soto walked in a run, and the Mets were now up 4-1.
Despite tossing 81 pitches through five, the Mets sent Holmes out there to start the sixth inning, getting two quick outs. However, Gorman drilled a long home run to right center field, putting the Cards within two and sending Holmes to the showers. Tobias Myers was first out of the ‘pen for the Mets, and he continued to look great, facing four batters, striking out three and not allowing a baserunner.
Brooks Raley pitched the bottom of the eighth, allowing an Iván Herrera single in an otherwise perfect appearance. Devin Williams would get the ninth and looked dominant, getting easy contact for the first two outs and then striking out Nathan Church to end the game with a flourish.
Every member of the Mets’ starting nine reached base tonight, with all but Semien collecting a hit. It was interesting to see Benge start in center, as well as see Jared Young get a start at first. The Mets rested Luis Robert Jr. for the first six innings, showing their dedication to keeping Robert healthy. Even with this somewhat wonky lineup, the Mets still delivered and took the first game of their roadtrip.
Tomorrow night, Kodai Senga starts for the Mets against Andrew Pallante.
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Big Mets winner: Clay Holmes, +14.1% WPA
Big Mets loser: Marcus Semien, -7.9% WPA
Mets pitchers: +40.8% WPA
Mets hitters: +9.2% WPA
Teh aw3s0mest play: Bo Bichette’s fifth inning single, +14.4% WPA
Teh sux0rest play: Nolan Gorman’s sixth inning dinger, -8.1% WPA
