POSTGAME: Mets 11, Cardinals

The Mets (36-34) beat the Cardinals in convincing fashion, pounding out 16 hits over eight innings on their way to victory, 11-0. Fernando Nieve (3-0, 1.31) stayed perfect as a Met, winning his third game in as many tries, and sealing his spot in the rotation for now.

Mets Pitching
Fernando Nieve (W, 3-0): 6.0 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 4 BB, 5 K
Brian Stokes: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 2 K
Pat Misch: 1.0 IP, 1 K
Bobby Parnell: 1.0 IP, 0 H

Notables
David Wright: 4 for 4, 2B, 3 R
Ryan Church: 3 for 4, 2 2B, 2 RBI, 2 R
Nick Evans: 2 for 3, HR, 2 RBI
Fernando Tatis: 2 for 4, 2 RBI
Brian Schneider: 1 for 4, 2B, 2 RBI

The Good:

• Nieve was lights out for the third straight time against a potent offense. Don't let the four walks fool you; two of them were "unintentional" intentional walks to sir Pujols. Have the Mets found lightning in a bottle again?
• Despite not hitting for "power," David Wright continues to do the right thing at the plate as he went a perfect 4 for 4 with a double. Wright now leads the NL with a .354 average.
• Ryan Church continues to hit the ball well, too, as he was 3 for 4 with two doubles and a pair of RBIs. Church was robbed of a home run by the giant wall in left field.
• Brian Schneider was also robbed of a home run by the cavernous Citi Field when he drove in a pair in the fifth inning with a double.

The Bad:

• Fernando Tatis, despite having two RBIs, is still awful at the plate. He really had just one good at-bat, and when he plated his first RBI, it would have been a routine ground ball had the infield not been playing in.

The Ugly:

• The Cardinals comitted two errors by the book, but also made several mental errors that will not be charged officially. Simply put, I would not want to be in that clubhouse when Tony LaRussa comes in today.

Mets' Players of the Game: Fernando Nieve (1), David Wright (8), Ryan Church (2)

It's not hard to tell the Mets needed a laugher to go in their favor, and the fact that they did it with all of the injuries they are facing makes it even better. Had they blown out St. Louis with Reyes, Beltran, Delgado, and Sheffield in the lineup, and perhaps one of their top three starters on the hill, it would not have been a very big deal.

Instead, they did it with a lineup that has the average age of 26, and three players made their 2009 Mets debut (Evans, A. Reyes, Misch). Just an odd day at the ballpark to say the least.

The Mets also ended their series losing streak, and have a chance to take three of four from the NL Central's best team today at 1:10 PM.