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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME LOG
ST. LOUIS (AP) -- Even mired in 2-for-26 slump, Jim Edmonds is no
easy out.
|  | | Jim Edmonds takes a curtain call after his game-winning homer in the ninth inning lifted St. Louis past the Mets 6-5 on Friday. |
Edmonds had two crucial hits, including a game-winning home run
with one out in the ninth inning, that gave the St. Louis Cardinals
a 6-5 victory over the New York Mets on Friday night in a matchup
of NL division leaders.
"That's the way he's been most of the year," manager Tony La
Russa said. "He's been a little bit funky here lately, but mostly
he's been outstanding."
The Cardinals defeated New York for the first time in seven
tries this season when Edmonds hit his 37th homer off Pat Mahomes
(4-3). Edmonds also had an RBI single in the seventh to tie the
game.
"Hopefully, that's maybe a sign of things to come," Edmonds
said. "I've still got a lot of work to do and need to come up with
a little more discipline."
Mahomes had Edmonds 0-2 in the count before missing on a
fastball away. The next pitch was a chest-high fastball that
Edmonds hit over the right-field wall.
"I'm going to go at him with my best stuff," Mahomes said. "I
thought I could get a fastball by him, but I guess I was wrong."
The NL Central-leading Cardinals have won 12 of 16. The Mets,
who had three of four, remained a half-game ahead of the Braves for
the NL East lead.
"We played well in Atlanta," Edmonds said, referring to the
Cardinals taking three of four against the Braves last week. "Now
we've got to try to prove we can play with this team."
Cardinals catcher Mike Matheny threw out two runners trying to
steal second in the ninth inning. He caught pinch-runner Kurt
Abbott to complete a double play, then threw out Timoniel Perez,
who had singled in his first major league at-bat.
"He saved the game," Cardinals starter Garrett Stephenson
said.
Matheny also had an RBI double and an infield hit to extend his
career-best nine-game hitting streak.
Dave Veres (2-3) gave up two hits in a scoreless ninth.
Robin Ventura and Jay Payton homered for the Mets. J.D. Drew had
a two-run shot for the Cardinals.
Edmonds' hit off Dennis Cook in the seventh came after Drew
coaxed a walk after being down 0-2 in the count to put runners at
first and second.
Matheny's RBI double in the second off Bobby Jones gave the
Cardinals the lead.
The Mets tied it in the third on three singles off Stephenson,
including Jones' first hit of the season in 34 at-bats. Lenny
Harris got the RBI on a slow roller down the third-base line.
Payton's two-run homer in the fourth put the Mets ahead, but the
Cardinals regained the lead with a three-run fifth on an RBI single
by Fernando Vina and a two-run homer by Drew.
Ventura tied it with his 21st homer leading off the sixth and
Matt Franco, called up earlier in the day, put the Mets in front
again 5-4 on a sacrifice fly off Mike James.
Stephenson, 4-0 with a 2.65 ERA in five August starts, lasted
five-plus innings in 93-degree heat. He gave up five runs on seven
hits with six strikeouts and four walks.
"I just couldn't quite catch a groove," Stephenson said. "I
was all over the place."
Jones also went five innings for New York, allowing four runs on
seven hits. He's 4-0 his last seven starts.
"I felt fine, it was more humid than hot," Jones said. "I
felt like I made good pitches. I made a mistake to Drew and it was
a home run."
Game notes
Cardinals third baseman Fernando Tatis hasn't started since
Aug. 26 due to a sore knee, he sat again Friday and probably won't
play Saturday. ... Vina returned to the St. Louis lineup after
missing three starts with bruised ribs. ... Edmonds made a nice
running catch on Harris' drive with two men on to end the sixth.
... The Mets have hit 19 homers in the last 16 games. ... Payton is
7-for-15 his last five games.
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Baseball Scoreboard
NY Mets Clubhouse
St. Louis Clubhouse
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