NEW YORK (AP) Yoenis Cespedes and Travis d’Arnaud homered, Todd Frazier drove in three runs and the New York Mets beat the St. Louis Cardinals 6-2 Saturday.
Jacob DeGrom pitched effectively into the sixth inning and the Mets, under new manager Mickey Callaway, opened at 2-0 for the first time since 2013.
After batting cleanup on opening day, Mets leadoff hitter Asdrubal Cabrera doubled in the first on a full-count pitch from Michael Wacha. Cespedes walked and Jay Bruce grounded into a forceout.
Frazier doubled into the left-field corner, with a hustling Bruce beating the throw without a slide.
D’Arnaud homered in the fourth and Cespedes made it 4-1 with a drive in the fifth. Cabrera added an RBI double in the eighth.
DeGrom (1-0) struck out five of the first nine Cardinals he faced. He fanned seven in 5 2/3 innings, allowing one run and four hits.
Matt Carpenter homered for the St. Louis in the eighth. Jeurys Familia got the last four outs for his first save.
Wacha (0-1) allowed four runs on five hits and two walks over 4 2/3 frames, walking two and hitting a batter.
Jose Martinez had an RBI single for the Cardinals and is 5 for 7 this season.
Down by three runs, St. Louis threatened with back-to-back singles to lead off the seventh. After Kolten Wong grounded out against Robert Gsellman, reliever Anthony Swarzak retired pinch-hitter Greg Garcia and Dexter Fowler to strand both runners.
Frazier had a sacrifice fly in the seventh.
The Cardinals will look to avoid getting swept Sunday as they send Luke Weaver to the mound in the weekend finale, and the Mets will go with Stephen Matz. The first pitch at Citi Field is scheduled for 12:10. Sunday’s game can be heard on KTLO-AM. The Ameren Pregame Show begins at 11:15.
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