Thu Jul 3 23:53:44 2008

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Pelfrey cruises to fourth straight win as Mets pound Cards

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St. Louis, MO (Sports Network) - Carlos Delgado hit a two-run home run, Jose Reyes had a bases-loaded triple, and Mike Pelfrey threw seven solid innings, as the New York Mets blasted St. Louis, 11-1, in the finale of a four-game set with the Cardinals.

Pelfrey (6-6) took the win after allowing just one run on six hits, while striking out six for the Mets, who earned the split in the series and have won three of five overall.

New York's offense exploded for 10 hits. Endy Chavez, Damion Easley, and Marlon Anderson each collected a pair of hits and added an RBI.

Mitchell Boggs (3-1) surrendered all 11 runs -- 10 earned -- and the 10 hits to take the loss, while walking six in his fifth start of the season. The Cardinals had not yet lost a game Boggs started, as the rookie surrendered career highs in hits and runs.

Ryan Ludwick, Yadier Molina and Adam Kennedy each had two hits, while Chris Duncan drove in the lone run for St. Louis, which compiled nine hits but failed to pick up its 50th win of the season.

The Mets got on the scoreboard quickly. After Reyes began the game with a ground out, Chavez singled, while David Wright and Ryan Church followed with walks. Delgado lofted a fly ball deep enough to right to plate Chavez for the 1-0 lead.

Later, Easley's single brought Wright home and Boggs' error allowed Church to score, boosting New York's edge to 3-0.

In the third, the Mets pulled away with a six-run effort. Church smacked a one-out double, while Delgado walked and Easley singled to load the bases. Church ran home on Anderson's ground out, while Castro worked a walk to fill the bases again.

Pelfrey slapped a single to right, plating Delgado, and Reyes followed with the big blow -- a bases-clearing triple to center field. Chavez's double then brought in Reyes for a 9-0 Mets lead.

In the sixth, after Wright worked a leadoff walk, Delgado blasted a two-run homer over the fence in right field to push the Mets' advantage to double- digits, at 11-0.

Duncan's ground out in the home half of the sixth plated Kennedy, getting one run back for the Cardinals. But Pelfrey rebounded, made it through the seventh unscathed, and Scott Schoeneweis and Joe Smith each tossed a scoreless inning to close out the game.

Game Notes

New York left six runners on base, while St. Louis stranded seven...Pelfrey has won four straight starts...The Mets open a four-game series in Philadelphia on Friday...The Cardinals remain at home and on Friday start a three-game set with the NL Central-leading Chicago Cubs.