DeJong tags Mets again, Cardinals win 4-3 with only 3 hits
NEW YORK — Paul DeJong tagged the Mets again, hitting a tiebreaking home run in the eighth inning that sent the St. Louis Cardinals over New York 4-3 on Sunday.
The Cardinals won despite getting outhit 10-3. They took three of four in the series, and DeJong homered in each victory.
DeJong is 30 for 83 (.361) with nine homers and 10 doubles against the Mets overall.
Paul Goldschmidt hit a prodigious home run off the facade of the second deck and scored twice for St. Louis, which went 5-5 on its season-long 10-game road trip.
Robinson Cano returned from the injured list and doubled and scored a run, and Dominic Smith had two hits in his first career start in the leadoff spot for New York, which is 5-5 over its last 10 games.
Mets starter Jason Vargas exited in the fourth inning with a cramp in his left calf. He fouled a ball off his foot and was pulled during the at-bat.
DeJong connected off Chris Flexen (0-3) for a solo drive. He has six home runs in 11 games at Citi Field.
New York’s bullpen has allowed 15 earned runs over its last 20 1/3 innings. Flexen has been scored on in each of his three outings.
Andrew Miller (3-2) pitched a scoreless seventh to earn the victory and Carlos Martinez went two innings for his second save.
Pinch-hitter Todd Frazier reached far over the plate and, with one hand, blooped an opposite-field single to right with one out in the Mets ninth. Frazier shared a quick laugh at first base with Martinez, who then got pinch-hitter Wilson Ramos to ground into a game-ending double play.
Goldschmidt’s first-inning homer was the only hit the Cardinals could muster in the first seven innings against Vargas and Wilmer Font.
Dakota Hudson struggled early, falling behind eight of the first 12 batters, but rebounded to keep St. Louis in the game, allowing three runs over six innings. The Cardinals have won each of his last six starts.
J.D. Davis and Adeiny Hechavarria each had an RBI for New York.