Arenado’s error leads to Mets’ rally in ninth inning

METS 5, CARDINALS 2

ST. LOUIS — Pinch-hitter Dominic Smith hustled for an infield single that drove in two pivotal runs, and the New York Mets capitalized on an uncharacteristic error by Gold Glove third baseman Nolan Arenado to rally for five unearned runs with two outs in the ninth inning of a 5-2 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals on Monday night.

After the hit by Smith gave New York the lead, Brandon Nimmo capped the outburst with a two-run home run.

“It was worth the wait,” Mets Manager Buck Showalter said. “It really was. It was fun to watch.”

Max Scherzer struck out 10 over 7 innings of two-hit ball in a scoreless duel with Cardinals starter Miles Mikolas. A two-run single by Tyler O’Neill off Trevor May (1-0) put St. Louis ahead in the eighth.

New York was down to its final strike when Mark Canha hit a grounder to third. Arenado, awarded a Gold Glove in each of his nine major league seasons, fielded the ball cleanly behind the bag but took his time making an off-balance throw to first.

The ball sailed high for an error that allowed Eduardo Escobar to score from second, making it 2-1. Canha was credited with an infield single.

Jeff McNeil doubled, sending pinch-runner Travis Jankowski to third, and Smith hit a sharp one-hopper that was snagged by sprawling first baseman Paul Goldschmidt behind the bag.

But closer Giovanny Gallegos (01) was late covering first, and Smith beat him to the bag with a headfirst dive.

McNeil never stopped coming around third and slid in safely at the plate ahead of Gallegos’ throw, giving the Mets a 3-2 lead.

Not for St. Louis, after Gallegos’ gaffe proved costly.

“It’s pretty simple. We’re going to make physical mistakes. That’s a mental mistake there,” St. Louis Manager Oliver Marmol said. “You can’t excuse it. He knows it. We know it. He’s got to cover first.” Nimmo then lofted the first pitch from lefty reliever T.J. McFarland over the fence in the right-field corner.

Edwin Diaz struck out two and earned his second save, rebounding after he gave up a tying home run with two outs in the ninth inning Friday night at Arizona.

GIANTS 4, BREWERS 2 Luis Gonzalez hit his first major league home run, a two-run drive with two outs in the ninth inning that sent San Francisco to a victory over Milwaukee. The Giants went 8-3 on their four-city trip and made the most of their one-game visit to Milwaukee. This matchup was part of a makeup for a series postponed because of the lockout, and San Francisco will return for a doubleheader in September.

PHILLIES 8, ROCKIES 2 Bryce Harper homered and drove in two runs, Rhys Hoskins had three hits and Philadelphia took advantage of several defensive miscues by Colorado. Kyle Schwarber added two RBI for the Phillies. Connor Joe and Randal Grichuk homered for Colorado.

DODGERS 4, DIAMONDBACKS 0 Walker Buehler tossed a three-hitter for his first career shutout, Will Smith homered and the Los Angeles Dodgers beat Arizona. Buehler (2-1) was superb, retiring 15 consecutive batters during a brilliant stretch from the fourth inning to the ninth. He walked none, hit one batter with a pitch and struck out 10. Los Angeles won for the 11th time in 13 games.

AMERICAN LEAGUE

BLUE JAYS 6, RED SOX 2 Bo Bichette broke an eighth-inning tie with his first career grand slam and Toronto beat slumping Boston. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and Matt Chapman also homered for the Blue Jays. Jose Berrios allowed two runs in a season-high seven-plus innings and Adam Cimber (4-0) got three outs for his major league-leading fourth win as Toronto won for the fifth time in six games. Boston has lost three consecutive and five of six.

RANGERS 6, ASTROS 2 Marcus Semien and Corey Seager had RBI singles in the decisive seventh inning, Adolis Garcia added a bases-clearing double in the eighth, and Texas beat Houston in the opener of a four-game series.

ANGELS 3, GUARDIANS 0 Taylor Ward homered twice and drove in all three runs, and Michael Lorenzen pitched six innings of three-hit ball in the Los Angeles Angels’ victory over Cleveland. Ward delivered a home run in the fifth and a two-run shot in the seventh, both off Cleveland ace Shane Bieber (1-1).