Flushing, NY (Sports Network) – Jeff Francoeur and Jose Reyes each homered as the New York Mets made a successful return to Citi Field by roughing up Adam Wainwright and the Cardinals, 8-2, in the opener of a three-game series.
The Mets shook off their debilitating 2-9 road trip by scoring as many runs as they had in their previous four games combined. The total was the most the club scored since a 9-5 win over Washington on July 4.
Carlos Beltran aided the rare offensive outburst with two hits, a run scored and another driven in, while Jon Niese (7-4) gave up just one run on seven hits and two walks over six-plus innings to get the win.
Wainwright (14-6) came in sporting a 25-inning scoreless streak but was knocked around for a season-high six runs on six hits and three walks in five innings, his second shortest stint of the year.
St. Louis has dropped four of five following an eight-game winning streak.