Game Recap: Cardinals 10 -- Mets 3

Johan Santana made his fourth start of the spring, and did not put out his best effort, en route to a 10-3 loss by the Mets.

Santana gave up 4 runs, 3 earned, on 5 hits through 5 innings. He needed 84 pitches, walked one and struck out 5. Santana had to get deep in the count to get to a lot of batters, so needed a heap of pitches to get the job done.

Not his best stuff today. Looked like he was relying on the changeup a little to much and the batters were just waiting and waiting on it ready to turn.

Ricardo Rincon, who was jinxed by Gary Cohen and Ron Darling when they announced his hat should be tossed into the mix for a bullpen spot, only last 1-3 of an inning, giving up 4 hits while striking out one. He was charged with 4 runs. Joselo Diaz finished out the 6th inning, allowing one hit while striking out one.

Rincon had a lot of bad breaks and close calls, but I think his hat was promptly removed from the bullpen considerations.

Billy Wagner came on for the 7th inning, allowing no hits. Wags walked one and struck out two. Joe Smith continued to struggle this spring, allowing 2 runs on 2 hits and 2 walks. Smith struck out two while on the bump. Aaron Heilman finished out the game, tossing one inning allowing one hit and striking out one.

Does not look good for Smith, not even for AAA. If it's your call, where do you send Smith?

The Mets struggled mightily on offense today, only tallying a handful of hits. Angel Pagan picked up a hit with a bunt single early in the game, he later scored on an error by left fielder Brian Barton after moving to second with a stolen base. Gustavo Molina added one hit. Luis Castillo made his first start of the spring, going 0-1 but walking twice.

Castillo showed some speed while trying to beat out his ground ball in the first inning, but as usual looked like he was in extreme pain. He always scares me with that limp and grimace, but he played into the 6th inning, so that's a very good sign.

Raul Casanova and Carlos Delgado picked up the other hits for the Mets, both with solo home runs. Casanova took Adam Wainwright deep to right field on a hanging curve ball. Delgado finally connected this spring, lining a homer the opposite way in the seventh inning.

Great to finally see Delgy connect for some power. And Casanova might get a shot at the opening day team if one Ramon Castro or Brian Schneider is not ready by March 31st.

The Mets also tallied 3 errors. A dropped ball by Delgado in the first led to runs for the Cardinals. Castillo misplayed a throw from Carlos Beltran, which allowed the runner to advance to second, and Anderson Hernandez got eaten up by a ground ball, his third error of the spring.