HOWIE RUMBERG ADVERTISING HOWIE RUMBERG AP Baseball Writer NEW YORK — Pinch-hitter John Mayberry Jr. had an RBI infield hit with one out in the bottom of the 14th inning, lifting the New York Mets to a 2-1 victory over
HOWIE RUMBERG
AP Baseball Writer
NEW YORK — Pinch-hitter John Mayberry Jr. had an RBI infield hit with one out in the bottom of the 14th inning, lifting the New York Mets to a 2-1 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals on Monday night after blowing another lead for Matt Harvey.
Lucas Duda beat a shifted, drawn-in infield with an opposite field hit for a run-scoring single off John Lackey in the fourth, but Jason Heyward had a sacrifice fly in the ninth off closer Jeurys Familia as the Mets wasted another 1-0 lead for their ace.
The division leaders then struck out a combined 12 times in extras before Sam Tuivailala (0-1) walked Eric Campbell and Duda to open the 14th. Cardinals closer Trevor Rosenthal relived and got Michael Cuddyer to ground into a fielder’s choice. Rosenthal then walked intentionally Daniel Murphy to load the bases.
Mayberry, who entered batting .114, grounded the first pitch off diving drawn-in shortstop Jhonny Peralta’s glove. Campbell slid home ahead of a late throw that stretching catcher Yadier Molina could not reach.
Carlos Torres (2-2) pitched two innings for the NL East-leaders’ third straight win after a five-game skid. The Mets were the last major league team to play extra innings this season.
Heyward doubled with one out in the 14th but reliever Seth Maness had to bat because St. Louis was out of position players. The Central-leading Cardinals didn’t get into New York until after 3 a.m. following their Sunday night game in St. Louis, a 2-1 win.
The Cardinals went 0 for 11 with runners in scoring position.
It was the third consecutive start in which New York gave Harvey one run of support. Harvey outpitched Lackey in a taught duel before giving way to Familia in the ninth.
Familia gave up one out singles to Matt Adams and Molina. Heyward then hit a 245 foot flyball to right field, but Curtis Granderson’s throw was several feet up the third base line and pinch-runner Pete Kozma easily slid home safely. It was Familia’s first blown save in 14 chances.
Harvey gave up six hits and matched a season-high with nine strikeouts in running his scoreless innings streak to 16 and lowering his ERA to 1.98 from 2.31.
Pitching on the same night his beloved New York Rangers were facing the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals, Harvey was not his usual dominant self. But he got out of each jam with timely strikeouts and solid defense — including a diving catch by struggling shortstop Wilmer Flores to start a double play in the fourth.
Lackey, at 36, more crafty than his overpowering opponent who is 10 years his junior, but he was every bit as good. Facing the Mets for just the third time and first since 2008, when he was with the Angels, Lackey stifled New York for seven efficient innings, allowing three hits and a run.
He held the Mets hitless until Granderson doubled leading off the fourth. Granderson advanced to third on Eric Campbell’s grounder to first. The Cardinals brought the infield in and put three fielders on the right side for the left-handed swinging Duda, who slapped an away pitch to the left side of second base for an RBI single. Lackey flailed in frustration as St. Louis fell behind 1-0.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Cardinals: LHP Jaime Garcia (setback from thoracic outlet syndrome) is set to make his first start of season Thursday in the series finale and he had a bullpen session Monday. Manager Mike Matheny didn’t sound too concerned with the results of the ‘pen. “He’s in,” Matheny said. “He’ll be ready Thursday.”
Mets: C Travis d’Arnaud (broken right pinkie) swung for first time Monday. Manager Terry Collins said d’Arnaud started with dry swings. He’ll build up to facing pitching so he doesn’t hurt his hand. … 3B David Wright (hamstring, back) was cleared for baseball activities. “The big thing now is to see how he wakes up tomorrow,” Collins said of seeing how Wright will feel after his first time on the field.
UP NEXT
Cardinals: St. Louis is 7-0 when RHP Michael Wacha (5-0) starts. In three career starts against New York, Wacha has held the Mets to a .220 batting average.
Mets: Jonathon Niese (3-4) is coming off a difficult outing in which he gave up six runs — four earned — in 6 1-3 innings to the Cubs, boosting his ERA to 2.49. While with Atlanta, Jason Heyward hit .328 (9 for 28) with two homers and eight RBIs against the LHP.
