Mets' 6-run inning sinks Cardinals 7-5; losing streak at 4

Brandon Nimmo hit a three-run homer to spark a six-run fifth inning, and the New York Mets rallied to beat the St. Louis Cardinals 7-5 on Tuesday night.

The Cardinals not only dropped their fourth straight game, but also lost catcher Willson Contreras to a broken left forearm in the second inning after he was hit by J.D. Martinez’s swing. Contreras, a three-time All-Star, is hitting .280 with a team-leading six home runs and 12 RBIs.

José Buttó (1-2) allowed three Cardinal runs in the first inning, but retired nine of his last 10 batters. He yielded five hits, struck out three and walked three in five innings.

Nimmo’s three-run homer off Miles Mikolas, a 440-foot drive to straightaway center field, tied it 3-all in the fifth. Nimmo, who hit a go-ahead homer Monday, also made a diving catch in the outfield to rob Nolan Gorman of a hit in the fourth.

Mikolas (2-5) allowed six runs and nine hits in four-plus innings.

The Cardinals will rely on Sonny Gray (4-1, 0.89 ERA) to stop the losing streak. He opposes LHP Jose Quintana (1-3, 5.20) in the finale of the three-game series Wednesday. 




(AP Photo Jeff Roberson)