Mets Lose to Cardinals 4-3 In Second Game Of Doubleheader And Struggle With Men On Base

Mets RHP Adonis Medina (Photo Credits to Vincent Carcheietta-USA Today Sports)

The New York Mets lost to the St. Louis Cardinals 4-3 tonight at Citi Field in the second game of a doubleheader and dropped their record to 24-14.

RHP Taijuan Walker cruised through the first three innings, but in the top of the fourth he gave up a lead-off single to 3B Brendon Donovan and then a RBI double to the following hitter 1B Paul Goldschmidt.

Walker's struggles continued in the top of the fifth after he gave up a one-out single to catcher Andrew Knizner and then a RBI triple to the following hitter 2B Tommy Edman.

Walker then walked Donovan and then gave up a RBI double to Goldschmidt and was taken out after the inning.

His final line was 5 innings, 7 hits, 3 runs, 2 walks and 4 strikeouts.

RHP Adonis Medina followed with 2.2 scoreless innings.

LHP Joely Rodriguez came in next and got the last out in the top of the eighth.

Rodriguez stayed in for the top of the ninth and got into immediate trouble after he gave up a lead-off walk to Donovan and allowed Donovan to steal second and then advanced to third on a passed ball by catcher Tomas Nido.

Rodriguez then walked RF Dylan Carlson and was taken out.

RHP Adam Ottavino came in next and struck out pinch-hitter Nolan Arenado, but then allowed LF Tyler O'Neil to reach on an infield hit which brought home a run.

The offense got off to a fast start in the bottom of the first after LF Mark Canha hit a solo homer.

After scoreless innings in the bottom of the second and third, 3B Eduardo Escobar hit a solo homer in the bottom of the fourth.

In the bottom of the sixth, Escobar came up with the based loaded and one out, but popped out and DH J.D. Davis struck out to end the inning.

After a scoreless bottom of the seventh, Lindor walked with one out in the bottom of the eighth and two batters later, Escobar struck out, but reached first base on a passed ball by Knizner.

McNeil then came up and delivered a game-tying RBI single.

In the bottom of the ninth, pinch-hitter Dom Smith walked and 2B Luis Guillorme singled with one out, but then Canha and Lindor struck out to end the game.

The offense was 1-7 with runners in scoring position and left nine men on base.

The Mets next game is tomorrow night, Wednesday May 18th at home against the Cardinals at 7:10 p.m.