The New York Mets took two of three from the St. Louis Cardinals in their first series of the 2018 season.
The Mets' bid for a three-game series sweep came up short with a 5-1 loss Sunday afternoon at Citi Field.
The Mets, who went 2-11 at home on Sundays in 2017, have not won a Sunday game at Citi Field since June 18, a 5-1 victory over the Nationals.
Mets pitchers struck out 35 Cardinals in the three-game series, the most in franchise history through the first three games of the year. Here's a look at the top five:
• 2018 -- 35 (vs. Stl 15, vs. Stl 12, vs. Stl 8)• 2005 -- 32 (at Cin 16, at Cin 7, at Cin 9)• 2017 -- 31 (vs. Atl 11, vs. 12, vs. Atl 8)• 2015 -- 30 (at Was 10, at Was 8, at Was 12)• 1967 -- 29 (vs. Pit 10, vs. Pit 10, at Phi 9)
Yadier Molina, who homered against the Mets on Opening Day, hit his second home run of the series Sunday.
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The Cardinals catcher homered twice vs. the Mets in the 2006 NLCS but had hit just one regular-season home run against the Mets during his career -- a solo shot against Jon Niese on June 17, 2014, at Busch Stadium.
Paul DeJong had his first career two-homer game for St. Louis on Sunday. The Cardinals shortstop is now 15-for-41 with five doubles, six homers and eight RBIs in 10 career games against the Mets.
On Saturday afternoon, the Mets beat the Cardinals, 6-2. Asdrubal Cabrera, batting leadoff, went 3-for-5 with two doubles in the Mets' victory.
According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Cabrera became the first player since 1915 to bat fourth in his team's opener and leadoff in the second game.
Here are the players who started at least 40 games batting leadoff and cleanup for the Mets in club history:
1st 4th• Curtis Granderson (2014-17) 301 72• Jim Hickman (1962-66) 85 59• Joel Youngblood (1977-82) 82 47• Cleon Jones (1963-75) 56 292• Howard Johnson (1985-93) 49 85
Jeurys Familia's save Saturday was the 107th of his Mets career, tying him for the third most in club history. Here are the top five:
• John Franco, 276• Armando Benitez, 160• Jesse Orosco, 107• Jeurys Familia, 107• Billy Wagner, 101
On Thursday, the Mets began the season with a 9-4 win over the Cardinals.
The Mets are now 22-3 in their last 25 Opening Days at home and are 6-2 all-time vs. the Cardinals on Opening Day, winning the last six matchups:
• March 29, 2018 -- Stl 4 at NYM 9• April 1, 2007 -- NYM 6 at NYM 1• April 6, 1993 -- NYM 4 at Stl 2 (10)• April 3, 1989 -- Stl 4 at NYM 8• April 9, 1985 -- Stl 5 at NYM 6• April 9, 1963 -- NYM 0 at Stl 7• April 11, 1963 -- NYM 4 at Stl 11
Noah Syndergaard made his second consecutive Opening Day start for the Mets and picked up the win. He allowed four runs in six innings after throwing six shutout innings in a no-decision vs. the Braves last year.
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The last Mets pitcher to make consecutive Opening Day starts was Johan Santana, who started and won three straight openers from 2008-10.
Here are the Mets pitchers who made at least two Opening Day starts in club history:
• Tom Seaver, 11 (6-0, five no-decisions)• Dwight Gooden, 8 (6-1, one no-decision)• Johan Santana, 4 (3-0, one no-decision)• Tom Glavine, 4 (3-1)• Al Leiter, 3 (1-1, one no-decision)• Bobby Jones, 3 (0-0, three no-decisions)• Roger Craig, 2 (0-2)• Al Jackson, 2 (0-2)• Craig Swan, 2 (2-0)• Noah Syndergaard, 2 (1-0, one no-decision)
Syndergarrd was one of four Mets who were in the lineup this season and last year on Opening Day, joining Asdrubal Cabrera, Yoenis Cespedes and Jay Bruce.
The least turnover of a Mets Opening Day lineup was back in 1985 and 1986, when eight Mets made consecutive Opening Day starts.
Cabrera became the fifth player to make at least one Opening Day start for the Mets at both shortstop and second base, joining Doug Flynn, Bob Bailor, Jose Vizcaino and Kaz Matsui.
Happy Recap: Mickey Calloway became the first Mets manager to win his first two games since Joe Torre, who won his first three games after taking over in 1977.
Nine Miles of Rough Road: Bruce vs. Wacha. Jay Bruce went 0-for 3 vs. Michael Wacha on Saturday and is now 1-for-31 (.032 batting average) with 13 strikeouts in his career vs. the Cards pitcher.
