New York Mets
Robby Sabo, ESNY Graphic, Getty Images

Noah Syndergaard and the rest of the New York Mets get 2018 started right as, on Opening Day 2018, they dispense of the St. Louis Cardinals 9-4.

  • New York Mets 9 (1-0)
  • St. Louis Cardinals 4 (0-1)
  • NL, Final, Box Score
  • Citi Field, Queens, New York

It’s the New York Mets. Of course they’re going to take the Opening Day game.

Other than not owning at least one no-hitter (until Johan Santana took care of that nagging title), the Mets organization is known as the baseball team who always wins on Opening Day. Add the year of 2018 to that narrative as they took out the St. Louis Cardinals by the final of 9-4 in Flushing.

Noah Syndergaard received the start and looked solid. He only went six innings, but fanned 10 and didn’t walk a batter. All told, he gave up four earned runs on six hits while picking up the deserved victory.

The real story of the afternoon was the offense led by a lineup that looks legit.

Without picking up a hit, the Mets scored in the first frame as leadoff man Brandon Nimmo scooted home on an error. After the Red Birds plated two in the top of the second, the Mets answered with two of their own and never looked back.

Yoenis Cespedes finished 2-5 with three runs batted in. Amed Rosario also collected two hits while driving in two runs. Newcomer Andrian Gonzalez, new starting catcher Kevin Plawecki and the aforementioned Nimmo all finished the day with two hits.

For St. Louis, Yadier Molina got the party started quickly as the man responsible for giving his team the 2-1 lead early with a two-run shot off Thor. First-baseman Jose Martinez was the Cards hitter of the day collecting three hits and the other two runs batted in.

From a Mets perspective, there were no home runs.

After rookie manager Mickey Callaway decided to pull Syndergaard after six, he received three excellent innings of work from his bullpen. Robert Gsellman, Anthony Swarzak and Jeurys Familia didn’t surrender one hit and struck out five in nine no-hit innings of work.

Sporting a sparkling record of 1-0, the New York Mets will regroup for a day before returning to action against the Cards on Saturday afternoon. First pitch comes your way at 1:10 p.m. ET from Citi Field.

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Robby Sabo is a co-founder, CEO and credentialed New York Jets content creator for Jets X-Factor - Jet X, which includes Sabo's Sessions (in-depth film breakdowns) and Sabo with the Jets. Host: Underdog Jets Podcast with Wayne Chrebet and Sabo Radio. Member: Pro Football Writers of America. Coach: Port Jervis (NY) High School. Washed up strong safety and 400M runner. SEO: XL Media. Founder: Elite Sports NY - ESNY (Sold in 2020). SEO: XL Media. Email: robby.sabo[at]jetsxfactor.com