Mets Lose To Cardinals 7-6 In Extra Innings After Bullpen Blows Another Lead

Mets RHP Marcus Stroman (Photo Credits to Brad Penner-USA Today Sports) The New York Mets lost to the St. Louis Cardinals 7-6 tonight at Citi Field for their second consecutive loss and dropped their record to 72-74. RHP Marcus Stroman cruised through the first three innings, but ran into trouble in the top of the fourth after he gave up a double to 1B Paul Goldschmidt and then singles to LF Tyler O'Neil and catcher Yadier Moliana. Stroman later gave up a sacrifice fly to RF Dylan Carlson to tie the game. Stroman settled down after that with scoreless innings in the top of the fifth and sixth and was taken out after the inning. His final line was 6 innings, 4 hits, 2 runs, 1 walk and 8 strikeouts. LHP Aaron Loup followed with a scoreless top of the seventh. RHP Jeurys Familia came on in the top of the eighth and gave up a two-run game-tying homer to LF Tyler O'Neil. RHP Trevor May had to come in to get the last two outs in the top of the eighth. RHP Edwin Diaz then threw a scoreless top of the ninth. RHP Heath Hembree threw a scoreless top of the tenth. RHP Jake Reed came in next in the top of the eleventh and struggled after he gave up a RBI single to SS Edmundo Sosa and then a two-run single to pinch-hitter Andrew Knizner. RHP Trevor Williams had to come in to get the last two outs in the eleventh. The offense got off to a fast start in the bottom of the first after 3B Jonathan Villar led off with a single and SS Francisco Lindor followed with an infield single. RF Michael Conforto then hit a RBI single and two batters later 2B Javier Baez reached on an infield single which brought home a run. The bats went quiet for the next few innings until the bottom of the fifth after Stroman walked with one out and then Villar and Lindor walked to load the bases Conforto then came up and hit a sacrifice fly. The offense didn't do much after that until the bottom of the ninth when Baez led off with a game-tying homer. In the bottom of the tenth, Lindor had a chance to deliver a walk-off single, but grounded into a double play to end the inning. In the following inning, Alonso hit a RBI double and then later in the inning, CF Kevin Pillar reached on an error to bring home another run. Pinch-hitter Albert Almora Jr came up with a chance to tie or win the game, but grounded out for the final out. The Mets next game is against the Cardinals tomorrow night Wednesday September 16th at 7:10 p.m.