Harvey, Mets no match for Cards' bats

March 5th, 2017

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- 's hot spring continued Sunday, helping the Cardinals spoil Matt Harvey's Grapefruit League debut in a 14-11 win over the Mets at First Data Field.
Diaz hit an RBI single in the second inning off Harvey, part of a four-run rally that revolved around a three-run homer. Making his first game appearance since undergoing surgery to remove a rib last July, Harvey struck out three in 1 2/3 innings, sitting at 90-93 mph.
"Overall, I'm happy with some of the pitches I made," Harvey said. "I'm happy with the way I felt, the way the ball was coming out."

Diaz finished 2-for-3, bumping his Grapefruit League average up to .429.
The Cardinals added plenty more after Harvey left the game, plating three runs on a triple off in the third inning, four against in the fifth and another two off left-hander in the sixth. Martinez, Bader, and all knocked home multiple runs for St. Louis.

The Mets actually took an early lead on a solo homer in the first inning, but lost it for good in the second. Cespedes, who finished 2-for-2 with two runs scored, is batting .538 this spring. 's three-run homer capped a six-run seventh inning for the Mets, who pulled within three runs before 's eighth-inning solo homer pushed St. Louis' lead to four.

Cardinals starter Mike Leake served up the Cespedes homer and three runs in all while finishing four innings in his second spring start.
"It was not quite as crisp as the last game, but it was a good one to learn on and build off of," said Leake, who had retired all nine batters in his first spring start. "I think for the most part I was able to locate my fastball and cutter, but I still have room to get better."
Cardinals Up Next: will not start Monday's game against the Twins as scheduled due to tightness near his right armpit. Instead, the Cardinals will turn to in a 12:05 p.m. CT game at CenturyLink Sports Complex. , and are among the position players scheduled to appear in the game, which will air on MLB.TV, Gameday Audio and a free, exclusive audio webcast on cardinals.com.
Mets Up Next: will make his Grapefruit League debut Monday in a 1:05 p.m. ET game against the Marlins in Jupiter, Fla., the left-hander's first action since undergoing surgery to remove a bone spur from his pitching elbow last September. Health will be a focal point this year for Matz, who has never thrown more than 141 innings in any season as a professional. He'll start opposite Marlins right-hander at Roger Dean Stadium, and the game will air on Gameday Audio.
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