NEW YORK -- Offensively dormant for most of the second half, Mets outfielder Yoenis Cespedes woke up on Wednesday -- and displayed every side of who he is -- in a 7-3 win over the Cardinals.
Featuring freshly dyed blue hair, Cespedes drove home runs in each of his first two at-bats, helping the Mets jump all over Cardinals starter Mike Leake for seven runs in two innings. But fans at Citi Field held their collective breath when trainer Ray Ramirez trotted out to check on Cespedes following his second-inning double, fearing another leg injury for the slugger.
 
 
DeGrom wins seventh straight start, Mets top Cardinals 7-3
 
 
Ultimately, Cespedes stayed in the game, playing all nine innings despite the trainer's visit and -- at one point -- lopsided score.
New York's early offensive outburst made a winner out of starting pitcher Jacob deGrom, who improved to 7-0 with a 1.51 ERA in his last seven outings. It also snapped a three-game losing streak for the Mets, as well as their four-game skid against the Cardinals.
John Brebbia gave St. Louis three shutout innings of relief, and the Cardinals brought the potential tying run to the plate after Magneuris Sierra singled home two runs off Jerry Blevins in the eighth. But Mets closer Addison Reed struck out Luke Voit to end St. Louis' best threat of the night.
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED Drips and drops: The Mets had no signature blow against Leake, just a steady flow of offense throughout the first two innings. With a man on second base and two outs in the first inning, Cespedes singled to left. Though an accurate throw might have allowed the Cardinals to escape the inning unscathed, Tommy Pham fired well wide of home, allowing the Mets' first run. Lucas Duda and Wilmer Flores followed with run-scoring hits to open up a 3-0 lead.
New life: The Mets began trotting off the field after deGrom appeared to strike out Voit to end the seventh inning. But home-plate umpire David Rackley ruled it a dropped foul tip, forcing everyone back to their respective positions. Two pitches later, Voit drilled a double off the left-field wall, giving the Cardinals their first run and chasing deGrom.
Anthony DiComo and Jenifer Langosch / MLB.com
 

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