NEW YORK — A new look to how they end games gave a new look to how games end.
Riding a recent tailwind of success back to the role he had four years ago, Jordan Hicks emerged from the bullpen for the ninth inning Saturday night at Citi Field. He invited trouble by hitting the first batter he faced — and then doused it. Quelling the Cardinals’ six-game losing streak and recent penchant for blown saves, Hicks struck out the final three batters he faced to secure the Cardinals’ 5-3 victory against the Mets.
He got two strikeouts on 103-mph fastballs.