By MATT PIKE
St. Joseph Post
The St. Louis Cardinals struck early, but starting pitcher Miles Mikolas labored in the fifth inning, and the Redbirds wound up losing in walk off fashion to the New York Mets 5-4 on Friday night at Citi Field.
St. Louis scored first in the second inning, singles from Brendan Donovan and Thomas Saggese before Pedro Pagés hit a single of his own to score Donovan. Another run was added by the Cardinals in the fourth, Donovan again coming home this time on a single by Jordan Walker. But after four solid innings, allowing just two hits and one walk, Mikolas ran into trouble in the fifth.
Brett Baty led the inning off with a double, which was promptly followed up with a triple by Tyrone Taylor scoring Baty. Taylor came home to score on a single by Juan Soto. St. Louis did take the lead back in the top of the sixth, Willson Contreras doubling and getting driven in on a single by Nolan Arenado, but the Mets again tied the game up in the bottom half of the inning as Mark Vientos homered for a second consecutive game.
New York took their first lead of the game in the eighth inning as Vientos led the inning off with a single, before being pinch ran for by Luisangel Acuña who stole second base. Acuña did wind up being thrown out at third base on a fielders choice out with Brandon Nimmo at the plate, the tag play being challenged and upheld. Nimmo though moved to second on a throwing error by relief pitcher Phil Maton on a pickoff attempt, then scored on a double by Luis Torrens.
The Cardinals tied the game up in the top half of the ninth inning, Donovan scoring his third run of the game hitting a solo home run to right field. In the bottom half, Fransisco Lindor answered with a home run of his own for the walk off win for the Mets.
Ryan Fernandez took the loss in relief for St. Louis, falling to 0-2, not even recording an out only giving up the home run to Lindor. Mikolas pitched 4.2 innings and gave up two runs on five hits, striking out one and walking two in the no decision. Donovan (2-4, 3 runs, 1 RBI) and Arenado (2-4, 1 RBI) led the way hitting.
St. Louis and New York continue tomorrow in the third game of the four game series. Matthew Liberatore starts for the Cardinals against Kodai Senga for the Mets. First pitch is at 3:05pm, pregame coverage will be joined at 2:55 on KY 102 (102.5 FM).
You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.