Tuesday just wasn't the Mets' night.
Coming off a rickety start at Wrigley Field, Jonathon Niese looked to bounce back and lead the New York Mets to their fourth straight win.
But Niese struggled, and he did so right out of the gate. After allowing a leadoff single to Peter Bourjos, Niese allowed an RBI double to Randal Grichuk. Three pitches into the game, the Mets were down 1-0.
The St. Louis Cardinals would tack on another run in the second, thanks to a successful safety squeeze by starting pitcher Michael Wacha. Wacha dribbled the bunt down the first base line, while Kolten Wong followed Mets third baseman Eric Campbell smartly. The Mets only had one play--to throw out Wacha-- and Wong scored the Cardinals' second run of the night.
In the top of the third, Grichuk led off with a rocket to center field. Juan Lagares almost made a fantastic leaping catch as he raced to the warning track, but the baseball popped out of his glove and Grichuk had himself a leadoff triple. Jhonny Peralta would drive Grichuk home with a bloop single to no man's land in center field.
It was that kind of night for the Mets. After Daniel Murphy hit his third home run of the season to cut St. Louis' lead to 4-2, Jon Niese began to unravel. After a 1-2-3 inning in the fifth, Niese entered the sixth inning with 73 pitches thrown, but his effectiveness took a major step down. Niese allowed three straight singles to load the bases, and then Kolten Wong stepped up to rip a 2 run double to left, ending Niese's night.
New York's bullpen couldn't clean up the mess. Erik Goeddel entered for the Mets and allowed three straight hitters to drive in runs after a miscommunication by the Mets resulted in Michael Wacha reaching base on a sacrifice bunt attempt. After the sixth, the Cards' lead had ballooned to eight.
Michael Wacha pitched well for the N.L's top team. Besides the Murphy home run, he allowed just three hits through 7 innings, and he struck out five as well. Randy Choate and Sam Tuivailala pitched the eighth and ninth innings for St. Louis, allowing just one hit combined.
After Monday's game, the Mets called up Darrell Ceciliani and designated Kirk Nieuwenhuis for assignment. Ceciliani pinch hit in the seventh, and bounced a pitch over the head of Wacha to the middle of the infield for a single, his first major league hit.
Sean Gilmartin and Jack Leathersich finished the game for the Mets. Gilmartin pitched nicely, allowing just one hit in the eighth inning, but Leathersich struggled a bit. He didn't allow a hit, but the lefty hit Jhonny Peralta and then walked Randy Choate, who was making his first plate appearance in 11 years. 11 years!
The Mets and Cardinals continue their four game series Wednesday night, as Carlos Martinez (3-2, 4.73 ERA) faces off against the ageless wonder, Bartolo Colon (6-2, 3.86 ERA) at 7:10pm.