PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — After allowing hits to the first three New York Mets he faced Wednesday, Cardinals ace Jack Flaherty set down nine of the next 10 batters before the Mets added a run in the fourth to the two they tallied in the first. Flaherty permitted five hits in his four frames, a hit total which was the same as had by the Cardinals on offense but manager Mike Shildt said he was pleased by how efficient Flaherty was in the first inning after the early trouble.
"In six pitches," said Shildt, "you've got a run on the board and you've got first and third and nobody out in the first and then he gets the double-play ball to get out of it.