A fielding error by Jhonny Peralta followed by some hard-hit balls off Adam Wainwright enabled the Mets to take a 3-0 lead in the fourth inning on Thursday night.
Peralta, playing near second base because of a shift, couldn't come up with Curtis Granderson's ground ball and reached first. Wilmer Flores followed with a double that sent him to third and both runners scored on a single to left by center field Alejando De Aza. Adam Wainwright minimized the damage by getting a double play by Rene Rivera.
The Cardinals loaded the bases with two out in the second, but Wainwright struck out swinging to end the inning.