Mets Beat Cardinals 4-2 Behind Strong Start from Quintana

Mets LHP Jose Quintana (Photo Credits to Jeff Curry-USA Today Sports)

 The New York Mets beat the St. Louis Cardinals 4-2 tonight at Busch Stadium for their second consecutive win and improved their record to 56-66.

The Met offense was held scoreless for the first three innings against RHP Adam Wainright, but in the top of the fourth, 2B Jeff McNeil hit a one-out double and then 1B Pete Alonso followed with a two-run homer, his 37th homer of the season.

In the top of the fifth, CF Rafael Ortega and LF Brandon Nimmo walked and then SS Francisco Lindor drove in Ortega with a RBI double.

The bats did not do much for the next three innings, but in the top of the ninth, pinch-hitter Tim Locastro led off with a solo homer.

LHP Jose Quintana cruised through the first six innings allowing one hit and then ran into trouble in the bottom of the seventh.

Quintana gave up a lead-off homer to LF Tyler O'Neil and then walked RF Jordan Walker and then gave up a single to catcher Andrew Knizner and was taken out after that.

RHP Drew Smith came in next and gave up sacrifice fly to pinch-hitter Alec Burleson, but did not allow any more runs in the inning.

Quintana's final line was 6.0 innings, three hits, two runs, four walks and five strikeouts.

He had sharp command of his curveball and change-up as well as his fastball. 

Quintana picked up his first win as a Met.

RHP Grant Hartwig followed in the bottom of the eighth and threw a scoreless inning.

RHP Trevor Gott threw a scoreless bottom of the ninth and picked up his first save.

The Mets next game is tomorrow night, Friday, August 18 at the Cardinals at 8:15 p.m.