Zack Wheeler had a very promising start today, but Adam Wainwright was a bit better as the Cardinals take the second game of the series, 4-1, over the New York Mets.
The New York Mets were only able to muster a solo home run off starter Adam Wainwright. Coming into the contest, he had a 5.48 ERA, struggling in his twelfth season in the big leagues. Today, he showed why he finished in the top three in the Cy Young voting four times. He went 6.2 innings, giving up one run, five hits, and striking out seven.
The game remained scoreless until the bottom of the third inning when Paul DeJong hit a solo shot of Wheeler to the left field seats. DeJong has absolutely torched the Mets in this series, going seven for eight with two long balls and four doubles.
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With the Cardinals still holding a 1-0 lead in the sixth, Yadier Molina hit a double down the left field line just passed the diving T.J. Rivera to give St.Louis a crucial insurance run.
Stop us if you have heard this before… Yadi delivers!
?6⃣ #STLCards 2, #Mets 0. pic.twitter.com/qJ4BOIGD6V
— St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) July 8, 2017
All-Star snub Jay Bruce hit his 23rd long ball of the season in the seventh inning to break up the shutout for Wainwright.
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The Cardinals would retaliate right back with a RBI single from Stephen Piscotty and would not look back after that.
Zack Wheeler on Right Track
The Mets must be very happy with what they saw from starter Zack Wheeler today. He went six solid innings, giving up two runs, eight hits, and striking out five.
In his previous three starts, Wheeler had gone a combined 7.1 innings. Going six innings today is a minor step in the right direction. He lowered his ERA to 4.86.
Bruce Keeps Hitting
Jay Bruce continues to produce in the middle of the lineup for this team, hitting his 23rd home run of the season. He hit a slow Adam Wainwright curveball over the right field wall.
Mets TV announcer Gary Cohen brought up a good point. Michael Conforto is the only All-Star for the Mets, and he is their fourth outfielder. Jay Bruce deserved to be on that squad.
Reyes Finally Heating Up
With another two hits today, Jose Reyes is starting to finally get in a minor groove. Over the last week plus, he is hitting .389 with three doubles and two homers. He has raised his average from .191 to .218.
If he can continue to get on base and get hits in clutch situations, it would really help lengthen the Mets lineup.
What’s Next?
The Mets will look to end the first half of the season on a good note, when Steven Matz faces off against Lance Lynn in the 2:15 pm matinee tomorrow.
