New York Mets rout St. Louis Cardinals 6-1 as Kirk Nieuwenhuis slams home run - MLB Update
Left fielder Kirk Nieuwenhuis puts in an excellent performance as the New York Mets rout St. Louis Cardinals 6-1 in third game of the four match series at Citi Field, New York, NY on June 3, 2012.
Mets were dominant throughout the game. Right fielder Lucas Duda singled in the first and Andres Torres scored. Thereafter, two scoreless innings went through before the Mets strengthened the lead with two more runs in the fourth.
By the time the Mets added three runs in sixth, the Cardinals were left with too big a task. Bouncing back from that situation demanded a miracle, which did not come about.
Jon Niese turned out the greatest hurdle in the way of the Cardinals. Starting for the Mets, he drew 10 strike-outs in just six innings and that handicapped the Cardinals. The fact he did not allow any runs speaks of the perfection with which he threw.
Unable to reign in on this throws in most of the games, Niese was happy that he finally managed to exhibit command. The criticism which arose following the game when he leaked so many runs will meet stoppage, for a while.
"I chart every one of Johan's games. I watched him attack hitters, establish his fastball in -- that is what I tried to do today," Niese said. "I think I had a good release point today with my curveball."
Not just the starter, the Mets’ relievers did an equally great job. Instead of becoming the source of relief for the Cardinals, relievers kept building up pressure and quelled any element of resistance coming off, late in the innings.
Mets’ manager Terry Collins cannot expect more than this from the players. With hitters showing calculated belligerency on plate and starter throwing scoreless innings, the manager will be looking forward to a consistency in performance.
"They should be very proud of where they are," Collins said. "This is the best atmosphere I have been around in a long time."
To keep the dominance afloat in National League East Division, the Mets will look to see the injured players back in the line-up. Furthermore, they will hope, the rest of their pitchers in rotation perform the way Niese did on Sunday.
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