NEW YORK — — Alec Burleson hit his first homer in almost nine months Friday night, a three-run blast that powered the St. Louis Cardinals to a 4-2 win over the New York Mets.
Burleson’s second-inning round-tripper was his first since he homered against the Minnesota Twins last Aug. 3. He entered Friday with two extra-base hits — both doubles — in 51 at-bats.
Willson Contreras hit a 445-foot homer off the facade along the second deck in left field in the third for the Cardinals.
Miles Mikolas (2-3) gave up two runs in 5 2/3 innings to lower his ERA from 6.49 to 5.91. He wriggled out of a two-on, none-out jam in the first by getting Francisco Lindor to fly out before inducing Pete Alonso to hit into a double play.
Ryan Helsley, the Cardinals’ fourth pitcher, earned his eighth save with a perfect ninth.
St. Louis’ Nolan Arenado went 0-for-3 but was hit by a pitch in the second to extend his streak of reaching base safely to 24 games, the longest streak in the majors this season.
OF Dylan Carlson (left shoulder) took batting practice in St. Louis Friday and could begin a rehab assignment next week. … INF Matt Carpenter (right oblique) swung a bat Friday and is expected to do so again Saturday.
Mets RHP Adrian Houser (0-2, 7.45 ERA) opposes Cardinals RHP Sonny Gray (2-1, 1.04) Saturday in the middle game of the series, 2:10 with the pregame and the first pitch at 3:05 on KIRX.