Martinez tosses 6 shutout innings for Cards

Lynn to start home opener

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — Carlos Martinez pitched six scoreless innings and Jhonny Peralta drove in two runs as the St. Louis Cardinals beat t he New York Mets 5 -2 Wednesday.

Martinez, the Cardinals’ fifth sta r ter, scattered t hree hits, struck out five and walked one.

“I worked better today and I felt better than any other start,” Martinez said through a translator. “My changeup was my best pitch, I feel, and my slider was my best pitch after my changeup.”

Mets open i ng- day st a r ter Bartolo Colon a l lowed t hree runs and six hits in five innings, struck out two and walked one.

Peralta had an RBI double in the first inning and added a RBI single off Colon i n the sixth. Kolton Wong and Mike Adams each had two hits and an RBI for the Cardinals.

“I’ve felt pretty good t his spring,” Peralta said. “I’ve been working really hard and I feel I’m ready to go. Bartolo’s a good pitcher, but the whole of spring training I’ve been feeling good at the plate. I’m ready.”

Matt Reynolds had three RBIs for the Mets, including a two-run double in the eighth.

Cardinals manager Mike Matheny would like to see Martinez find a better emotional balance on the mound.

“You watch the best in our game right now, they look the exact same all the time,” Matheny said. “It’s hard for a starting pitching to get to that minus experience and that’s what Carlos is going to have to start — just being real aware. ... A big part of consistency is how you hold yourself on that mound.”

T he Ca rd i n a l s a nd Mets wrap up Grapefruit League play today i n Jupiter. Right-hander Matt Harvey starts for the Mets a nd Lance Lynn for t he Cardinals.

CARDS SET ROTATION

Lance Lynn will sta rt t he Cardinals home opener April 13 against Milwaukee, Matheny announced Wednesday. St. Louis ace Adam Wainwright will start the season opener and be followed in the rotation by Lynn, John Lackey, Michael Wacha and Martinez.