The New York Mets were defeated by the St. Louis Cardinals, 5-4, on Monday at Citi Field. The loss prevented a sweep by the Mets in the series but they still won it three games to one.
Allen Craig's two-run home run in the eighth inning off Mets reliever Jon Rauch (3-5) snapped a 3-3 tie and provided St. Louis with its winning margin.
The Mets got one run back in the bottom of the inning to make it 5-4. Jason Thole singled, moved to third when Kirk Nieuwenhuis doubled and scored on Andres Torres' sacrifice fly to right. That, however, concluded the scoring.
Mets starter Dillon Gee went seven innings and gave up three runs (two earned). He also struck out eight batters while walking just two. Rauch got the loss due to Craig's eighth-inning homer. He lasted just two-thirds of an inning, giving up two earned runs and striking out one batter. Marc Rzepczynski (1-3) got the win after replacing Kyle Lohse in the seventh inning. Lohse allowed only earned one run in six innings and had three strikeouts. Jason Motte got his ninth save, getting the final four outs for the Cardinals. He allowed no hits over the final 1 1/3 innings and struck out one batter.
The Mets next series begins June 5 against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park.
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