Cespedes, d’Arnaud homer in win

NEW YORK — Coming off a 70-92 season, the New York Mets hired a new manager and hoped for better luck this year.

Even though it’s still real early, this is what they envisioned.

Yoenis Cespedes and Travis d’Arnaud homered, Todd Frazier drove in three runs and New York beat the St. Louis Cardinals 6-2 Saturday.

Jacob DeGrom pitched effectively into the sixth inning and the Mets opened at 2-0 for the first time since 2013.

And Mickey Callaway became the first Mets skipper to win his first two games since player-manager Joe Torre did it when he took over during the 1977 season.

A very solid start, so far. “That’s very nice. Big win the other day and wanted to come out here and win again today,” deGrom said.

Callaway showed off some flexibility, putting Asdrubal Cabrera in the leadoff spot after he batted cleanup in the opener. The Elias Sports Bureau said Cabrera was the first player since 1915 to bat cleanup on opening day and then hit leadoff the next game.

Cabrera hit two doubles, too.

D’Arnaud delivered in his first game of the season.

“We’ve got guys that haven’t even played yet that can start and will start on occasion, so getting all of our players in the game and using them all, we have no qualms about that,” Callaway said.

Cabrera began the first with a double off Michael Wacha, Cespedes walked and Jay Bruce grounded into a forceout. Frazier doubled into the left-field corner, with a hustling Bruce beating the throw without a slide.

“Hustling out of the box. Scoring on a base hit or a double,” Frazier said. “We put pressure on other guys. We’re not necessarily stealing but we’re smart baserunners.”

D’Arnaud homered in the fourth and Cespedes made it 4-1 with a drive in the fifth. Cabrera added an RBI double in the eighth.

DeGrom (1-0) struck out five of the first nine Cardinals he faced. He fanned seven in 5 2⁄3 innings, allowing one run and four hits despite having to fight through some issues.

“I was having a hard time getting a grip on the ball but other than that I was able to keep them off the board, gave them one run,” deGrom said.