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Mets down Cards, 6-1

Jun 4, 2012 - 4:27 AM Flushing, NY (Sports Network) - Jon Niese went six scoreless innings and the Mets defeated the Cardinals, 6-1, on Sunday.

Niese (4-2) allowed six hits, set a career-high with 10 strikeouts, and continued a stellar series for the Mets starting rotation.

Johan Santana set the pace in the opener, tossing the first no-hitter in club history and R.A. Dickey followed with a seven-hit shutout on Saturday.

On Sunday, Kirk Nieuwenhuis hit a two-run homer and drove in three while Andres Torres added a two-run triple for the New York, which has won seven of its last nine games and will look for the sweep on Monday.

Jake Westbrook (4-5) gave up five runs on nine hits in five-plus innings and Adron Chambers had an RBI single in the eighth for the Cardinals, losers of five straight and eight of 10.

Torres, who went 3-for-4, doubled in the first inning then scored two batters later when Lucas Duda singled to right field.

Niese not only excelled on the mound, but also singled twice. The second hit preceded Nieuwenhuis' two-out, fourth-inning homer.

Westbrook was relieved after a walk and a Josh Thole single began the sixth inning. Nieuwenhuis pushed across a run with a base hit off of Sam Freeman and Torres tripled against Maikel Cleto, making it 6-0.

Chambers prevented the shutout with an RBI single off of Elvin Ramirez.

Game Notes

Niese's previous career-high in strikeouts was eight...Santana and Dickey also threw consecutive shutouts in 2010...The Cardinals were 2-for-12 with runners in scoring position and left 12 men on base.