The New York Mets, who entered the weekend with the very best file in Main League Baseball, suffered a uncommon and irritating doubleheader sweep by the hands of the St. Louis Cardinals on Sunday. The Mets dropped each video games by only a single run — 6-5 within the early afternoon matchup and 5-4 within the nightcap — marking the primary time since 1974 that the Cardinals have swept a doubleheader towards the Mets in St. Louis.
Initially scheduled for Saturday, the second sport was pushed to Sunday because of rain, organising a high-stakes twin invoice that finally favored the house crew. Regardless of a 9-3 Mets victory within the collection opener, the Cardinals confirmed resilience and well timed execution to assert each of Sunday’s tightly contested video games, placing an finish to New York’s current dominance over them — together with a nine-game shedding streak towards the Mets.
A number of key moments outlined the sweep, beginning with a difficult MLB debut for Mets rookie Blade Tidwell in Sport 1. The 22-year-old right-hander struggled out of the gate, surrendering six earned runs in fewer than 4 innings. St. Louis capitalized on his early errors, with Alec Burleson delivering a two-run homer — his first of the season — and Nolan Arenado including to the offensive push.
“We performed actually good protection at the moment and that was part of it,” Burleson stated postgame. “We pitched rather well with McGreevy coming in, and we swung the bats sufficient to win two video games.”
Michael McGreevy, a Triple-A call-up making simply his second MLB look, was lights out for the Cardinals in Sport 1. He held the Mets scoreless over 5 2/3 innings, mixing pitches successfully and benefiting from elite defensive performs behind him. Rookie middle fielder Victor Scott II made a spectacular leaping seize to rob Juan Soto of a house run, whereas Jordan Walker’s sliding catch within the hole helped extinguish a Mets rally within the fourth inning.
Supervisor Carlos Mendoza made a lot of in-game changes, together with pulling Jesse Winker partway by Sport 1 and reshuffling the lineup — Jeff McNeil shifted to left area, Luisangel Acuña slotted into the cleanup spot, and Mark Vientos moved to 3rd base. Regardless of the tweaks, the Mets couldn’t capitalize on alternatives late in both contest.
The second sport noticed the Mets take a lead earlier than the Cardinals clawed again, as soon as once more leaning on well timed hitting and tight protection. It was a testomony to the Cardinals’ grit and skill to execute in strain conditions, even towards considered one of baseball’s most full groups.
Sunday’s sweep marked the seventeenth time the Cardinals have taken each video games of a doubleheader from the Mets — however the first such occasion in additional than 4 many years. Their final house sweep over New York in a twin invoice got here on July 5, 1974.
“It’s actually arduous to brush doubleheaders,” Burleson emphasised. “It’s not a straightforward factor to do, particularly with a crew like that over there.”
The Mets now flip the web page, seeking to bounce again and regain their momentum as they proceed this prolonged street stretch. For St. Louis, the sweep affords a uncommon shiny spot in what has been a turbulent season so far — and an opportunity to construct off a significant collection win towards one of many Nationwide League’s high contenders.