BASEBALL: Bo Bichette breaks through for new club as Mets defeat Cardinals

The slumping Bo Bichette drove in two runs as the visiting New York Mets defeated the St. Louis Cardinals 4-2 Monday in the opener of a three-game series.

Bichette, who struggled early in the season going 1-for-14 and faced boos at Citi Field during the Mets’ opener against the Pittsburgh Pirates, got an RBI groundout in the first inning and then delivered a go-ahead run-scoring single in the fifth off Kyle Leahy (0-1).

For the Cardinals, Alec Burleson had an RBI single in the first inning, and Nolan Gorman hit a solo home run in the sixth. St. Louis dropped its second straight game after starting the season 0-2.

The Mets added insurance in the sixth inning. Jared Young doubled in a run and later scored on a bases-loaded walk by Juan Soto.

Jorge Polanco and rookie Carson Benge each collected two hits for New York. Benge also stole a base. Every Mets starter had at least one hit except second baseman Marcus Semien. The win improved New York’s record to 3-1, their best start since 2023.

Clay Holmes (1-0), making his second season as a starter, earned the win, allowing two runs on four hits and three walks with five strikeouts over 5 2/3 innings. Tobias Myers struck out three in 1 1/3 innings of perfect relief, Brooks Raley allowed just one hit in the eighth, and Devin Williams recorded his first save with the Mets, striking out the side in the ninth.

Burleson was the only Cardinals player with multiple hits. Gorman’s second homer of the season traveled an estimated 419 feet to right-center.

Leahy, in his second major league start, allowed four runs on eight hits and two walks while striking out one over five-plus innings. His previous longest outing was 3 2/3 innings of relief against the Colorado Rockies on July 22 last year.

-Field Level Media/Reuters