ST. LOUIS — The Cardinals aren’t playing with much of a margin for error these days, and one mistake sent them to another loss on Monday night.
After rallying for three runs to tie the game against the Mets in the sixth inning, the Cardinals then saw Brandon Nimmo hit a home run off Andrew Kittredge in the top of the seventh that gave the Mets the win in the series opener at Busch Stadium.
It was the first home run allowed this season by Kittredge, who has been one of the Cardinals’ best relievers.
The loss was the third in a row for the Cardinals and their fifth in their last six games, dropping them to a season-low five games under .500 at 15-20.
Here is how Monday night’s game broke down:
At the plate: Jose Fermin was inserted into the leadoff spot and he responded with two hits, including a single leading off the three-run sixth. He scored on a double by Willson Contreras, just the fourth RBI this season from Contreras that did not come on a home run … After a walk to Paul Goldschmidt, Ivan Herrera drove in two runs with a double to left center, but he was thrown out trying to advance to third on the throw to the plate … The Cardinals put the tying run on base in both the seventh and eighth, but Brendan Donovan, dropped to seventh in the lineup, was stranded after his two-out double in the seventh and Nolan Arenado was left on first after he singled with two outs in the eighth … Goldschmidt’s hitless streak reached 19 at-bats as he went 0-of-3.
On the mound: Kyle Gibson allowed the first three Mets runs, giving up a walk and an RBI double with two outs in the first inning and another RBI single and a sacrifice fly in the fifth. He gave up seven hits and walked two over his six innings … Kittredge retired the first batter he faced in the seventh before Nimmo’s homer, the first run Kittredge has allowed since April 6 … Ryan Fernandez pitched around a leadoff double in the eighth and John King and Nick Robertson combined to pitch the ninth inning and keep it a one-run deficit.
Key stat: The Cardinals have only scored in six of their last 47 innings, three of which were multi-run innings.
Worth noting: As expected the Cardinals placed Giovanny Gallegos on the injured list because of an impingement in his right shoulder. They purchased the contract of reliever Chris Roycroft from Memphis to take the roster spot. Roycroft had pitched in the organization since 2022 after he signed as a minor-league free agent after pitching for Joliet in the independent Frontier League … To open a spot on the 40-man roster Tommy Edman was moved to the 60-day injured list, but that will not delay his return to the team when he is ready to play … Matt Carpenter’s rehab assignment will continue this week with Memphis.
Looking ahead: Miles Mikolas will get the start on Tuesday night in the second game of the series.
Want more local sports delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up for the 5 On Your Side Sports Plus newsletter.
