Mets beat Cardinals in 18 innings despite stranding 25 runners

On Sunday, the Mets left multiple runners on base in the 11th, 13th, 16th and 17th innings, making the game more torturous as it progressed. The Mets won despite stranding 25 base runners in the major league’s second-longest game this season.

Five hours and 55 minutes later, the “doubleheader” came to an end with the Mets taking the win 3-1.

The Mets and Cardinals have combined for lengthy affairs before, having played a 20-inning game here in 2010.

Mark Teixeira hit a tiebreaking home run with two outs in the bottom of the eighth inning as the New York Yankees edged Seattle 2-1.

Back-to-back hits off Carlos Martinez and an error loaded the bases for Ruben Tejada (3-for-6), who delivered a sacrifice fly for a 2-1 lead. “Not something to be proud of but you get the “W” and it makes everything else better”. Tejada followed with his deep fly and Campbell then bunted. Carlos Martinez (10-4) was pressed into relief and was the Cardinals’ eighth pitcher. Starting pitcher Bartolo Colon allowed eight hits and seven runs while striking out five over 4.1 innings to take the loss and fall to 9-8 for the season.

Both Heyward and manager Mike Matheny said there was “zero” concern going forward. They had gone 0-for-15 with runners in scoring position until the 13th inning Sunday.

Kevin Plawecki’s RBI single knocked in Curtis Granderson. So as history repeats itself, should the Cardinals go into extra innings against the Mets, the odds are they will come up empty handed. However, St. Louis also had an equally tough time scoring as well. We tried to hit and run, we couldn’t score. Only Philadelphia (27) in 1973 and San Diego (26) in 1979 left more runners stranded in a game – and both teams lost. “We aren’t happy about that”. “We’re getting guys on, we’re just not driving them in”. “I’ve never seen more flying helmets in my life than going down that runway”, referring to his players lashing out in frustration in the clubhouse.

“It was a lot of fun, a lot of yelling, a lot of celebrating”, said Jonathon Niese, whose 7 2/3 scoreless innings were wasted by an offense that eclipsed its own lofty standards of futility.

Arrieta (11-5) gave up three hits, three walks and struck out 10, throwing 73 of his 112 pitches for strikes.

This wasn’t the first time the teams endured a scoring drought against each other at Busch Stadium, and the Mets won the previoius one, too. Granderson doubled in the 13th and scored on Plawecki’s single off Carlos Villanueva.

Wong tied it with his homer off Jeurys Familia. Jhonny Peralta singled with one out and went to third on a two-out double by Yadier Molina before Familia struck out Tommy Pham to extend the contest.

Mets: OF Michael Cuddyer said after the game he might have to go on the disabled list if his sore left knee doesn’t respond to treatment scheduled for Monday. He was removed after singling in the eighth.

Cardinals: OF Jason Heyward was not in the lineup after exiting Saturday night’s game because of leg cramps. New York is 5-1 in game three of a series, 8-22 in their last 30 road games, and 2-9 in Niese’s last 11 starts as an underdog.

GIANTS 8, DIAMONDBACKS 4 Jake Peavy got his first victory of the season, Buster Posey drove in four runs, and visiting San Francisco beat Arizona for its fifth consecutive victory. Gio Gonzalez starts for the Nats.