Mets down Cards, 6-1
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}
Jon Niese went six scoreless innings and the Mets defeated the Cardinals, 6-1, on Sunday.
Niese (4-2) allowed six hits, set a career-high with 10 strikeouts, and continued a stellar series for the Mets starting rotation.
Johan Santana set the pace in the opener, tossing the first no-hitter in club history and R.A. Dickey followed with a seven-hit shutout on Saturday.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}
On Sunday, Kirk Nieuwenhuis hit a two-run homer and drove in three while Andres Torres added a two-run triple for the New York, which has won seven of its last nine games and will look for the sweep on Monday.
Jake Westbrook (4-5) gave up five runs on nine hits in five-plus innings and Adron Chambers had an RBI single in the eighth for the Cardinals, losers of five straight and eight of 10.
Torres, who went 3-for-4, doubled in the first inning then scored two batters later when Lucas Duda singled to right field.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}
Niese not only excelled on the mound, but also singled twice. The second hit preceded Nieuwenhuis' two-out, fourth-inning homer.
Westbrook was relieved after a walk and a Josh Thole single began the sixth inning. Nieuwenhuis pushed across a run with a base hit off of Sam Freeman and Torres tripled against Maikel Cleto, making it 6-0.
Chambers prevented the shutout with an RBI single off of Elvin Ramirez.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}
Game Notes
Niese's previous career-high in strikeouts was eight...Santana and Dickey also threw consecutive shutouts in 2010...The Cardinals were 2-for-12 with runners in scoring position and left 12 men on base.