In a game that won’t be shown any time soon on “Mets Classics, ” New York outlasted the Cardinals, 3-1, on Sunday at Busch Stadium to salvage the last game of this three-game set. “Obviously it’s hot- that’s nothing new to me- but it’s tough to stay hydrated when you’re not feeling well”, he said, adding he got IV fluids after the game.
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“I know they are going to be chomping at the bit to have us come in there”, Collins said. For Sunday’s game the Mets start Jon Niese who has allowed 111 hits and 42 earned runs while striking out 70 over 104.2 innings for a 5-8 record and a 3.61 ERA.
Brito pulled Clinton within 4-3 in the top of the ninth after a one-out RBI single to short but the LumberKings stranded the tying run at third as Beloit reliever Koby Guana got a strikeout and groundout to end the game.
In the Mets’ case it took until the 13th inning Sunday to find their first run, and victory couldn’t be claimed until the 18th. Jhonny Peralta singled with one out and went to third on a two-out double by Yadier Molina before Familia struck out Tommy Pham to extend the contest.
Tejada hit a bases-loaded fly for the lead and Eric Campbell drove in another run with a squeeze bunt.
Cardinals: The Cardinals are off Monday before opening a two-game series at the White Sox on Tuesday at 7:10 p.m. Connecticut. Wacha is expected to move up one day and make the start in place of Martinez.
It was a duel of the pitchers throughout the game. Carlos Villanueva, the Cardinals’ long reliever, threw four innings and the team meant to “push Carlos as far as we can possibly push him, and I believe that’s what we did”, Matheny said.
John Lackey, who rested while his offense battered his counterpart, threw a clean second and went on to toss 100 pitches in seven innings of work.
If a team goes 1 for 26 with runners in scoring position, it’s likely looking at a loss. Facing Ryan Tepera (0-1), Casali led off with a drive into the left-field bullpen, his second of the season and first since June 17.
“I’m really proud of the way the guys hung in there”, manager Terry Collins said. “We aren’t happy about that”. Seeking for some much needed first base help, Piscotty batted. “I’ve never seen more flying helmets in my life”.
For Niese it was the fourth time in five starts he lasted at least six innings and allowed two runs or fewer.
The Mets (48-44) won despite going an unthinkable 1-for-26 with runners in scoring position and stranding 25 runners, 17 in scoring position, during the 5-hour, 55-minute marathon. Boston beat the Yankees in 19 innings in April. He was removed after singling in the eighth.
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Cardinals: OF Jason Heyward was not in the lineup after exiting Saturday night’s game because of leg cramps. Heyward also has been dealing with a head cold that Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said has been making the rounds through the clubhouse. While the Cardinals have rebounded from a brief stumble prior to the All-Star break, New York has sputtered out of the blocks to begin their 10-game stretch against all three National League division leaders. Hours earlier, pinch-hitter Matt den Dekker lined a two-run home run in the eighth inning that lifted the Nationals over the Dodgers in the completion of a game suspended a day earlier after the fifth because of a lighting malfunction at the ballpark.
