DeJong delivers four hits as Cards defeat Mets
ST. LOUIS — Paul DeJong had no guaranties when he was recalled by the St. Louis Cardinals on June 15.
He's certainly making a strong case for an extended stay in the big leagues.
DeJong homered as part of a four-hit
game and Adam Wainwright won his third consecutive start as the St. Louis Cardinals beat the New York Mets 4-1 on Saturday.
DeJong notched his first career four-hit
game with three doubles to go along with the homer. He became the first Cardinals shortstop and No. 8 hitter in the modern era to have four extra-base hits in one game.
“It was just one of those days when you're in the zone and seeing it really well and not thinking too much,” DeJong said. “Just going up there trying to see the ball
down the middle and hit it really. That's as simple as it can be.”
DeJong drove in two and scored twice.
He is hitting .625 (10 for 16) during a five-game hitting streak.
“I'm just controlling my emotions in the (batter's) box, not trying to create anything,” DeJong said. “At times I can get
out of my zone and swing at pitches that I shouldn't be, swinging when I'm trying to do too much.”
Wainwright (10-5) pitched 6 2/3 innings, lasting into the seventh for the third time in his last four starts. Three of the five hits he allowed came in the seventh and he struck out seven, including the side in the sixth inning.
“I thought his cutter slider was his best all season and then he didn't try to overthrow his fastball,” Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said. “I thought he just did a real nice job of executing pitches all day.”
Seung Hwan Oh earned his 18th save in 21 chances. Matt Bowman got Wainwright out of his seventh-inning jam and Brett Cecil pitched a scoreless eighth.
DeJong’s leadoff homer in the third,
his second in as many games, gave the Cardinals a 1-0 lead. It is the third time
in DeJong’s 34-game career that he has hit
home runs in back-to-back days.
“Not surprising to me at all that Paul's having such a great start,” Wainwright said. “He's hit in every league he's been in.”
Yadier Molina's double in the sixth made it 2-0 Cardinals. It was Molina's first RBI in five games.
Jay Bruce’s 23rd home run of the season
cut the Cardinals' lead to 2-1 in the seventh. It is a career high for Bruce in the first half of the season and it is the most homers by a Mets before the All-Star break since Carlos Beltran hit 25 in 2006.
Zack Wheeler (3-6) struck out five in six innings in his second start since returning from the disabled list with biceps tendinitis. It was his longest outing since going seven innings on June 7.
“I think the fastball command was there, better than it has been so I'm happy with that,” Wheeler said. “But I made a couple of mistakes to DeJong and Molina and it cost me a couple of runs.”
Pirates 4, Cubs 2
CHICAGO — Gregory Polanco hit a two-run homer in the sixth inning and Ivan Nova pitched three-hit ball into the seventh, leading the Pittsburgh Pirates to a victory over the Chicago Cubs.
Josh Bell had three hits and two runs scored, while Francisco Cervelli and Jordy
Mercer each drove in a run for the Pirates.
Ian Happ and Kyle Schwarber had backto-back home runs for Chicago, which has not won consecutive games since a threegame streak June 18-20.
Nova (9-6) struck out six and walked one in 6 2/3 innings. Besides the homers, the only other hit he allowed was a secondinning single to Schwarber.
Felipe Rivero, who reached 102 on the radar gun, got the final four outs for his sixth save.
Cubs starter Jake Arrieta (8-7) allowed
four runs (three earned) and six hits in 5 2/3 innings. He had allowed an unearned run through five innings before being knocked out in the sixth.
Padres 2, Phillies 1
PHILADELPHIA — Austin Hedges drove in the winning run for San Diego for the second straight game, and Jhoulys Chacin
pitched 6 1/3 strong innings.
Carlos Asuaje added an RBI triple for the
Padres, who have won five of six. Maikel Franco homered and Tommy Joseph had two hits for Philadelphia, which
has lost five straight and seven of nine. Chacin (8-7) allowed one run and three
hits. Brandon Maurer pitched a scoreless ninth for his 19th save.
Aaron Nola (6-6) tied career highs by going eight innings and striking out nine, but he was the hard-luck loser. Nola gave up four hits and walked two.
Interleague Dodgers 5, Royals 4, 10 innings
LOS ANGELES — All-Star rookie Cody Bellinger drew a bases-loaded walk to force in the winning run in the 10th inning and the NL West-leading Los Angeles Dodgers rallied to beat the Kansas City Royals for their fifth straight victory.
The Dodgers (60-29) reached the 60win mark before the All-Star break for the first time since 1974. They are just the third
team in franchise history to do so since 1933, joining the 1973 and ‘74 squads that had 63
wins each.
Royals reliever Scott Alexander loaded the bases on consecutive walks to Chase Utley,
Corey Seager and Justin Turner leading off the
inning. He was replaced by Kelvin Herrera.
With the infield drawn in, fans chanted “Cody! Cody!” as Bellinger worked a full count before walking to force in Utley.