PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. • After Jaime Garcia worked 3 2/3 strong, scoreless innings and Matt Adams clouted a two-homer for the Cardinals, it went downhill for the Cardinals Thursday in an exhibition game at Tradition Field.
Ruben Tejada’s two-run homer off Mitch Harris tied the score 2-2 in the fifth. Then, Travis Taijeron clouted a three-run homer, a drive that hit the batters’ backdrop in center field, as the New York Mets exploded for four runs in the seventh inning to take a 6-2 lead over the Cardinals.
Garcia, working with catcher Brayan Pena for the first time in a game, allowed just three hits and walked one while throwing 53 pitches.