NEW YORK — Paul DeJong again picked on a favorite foe.
DeJong tagged the Mets for a tiebreaking home run in the eighth inning Sunday, sending St. Louis Cardinals over New York 4-3.
The young shortstop is 30 for 83 (.361) with nine homers and 10 doubles over 20 career games against the Mets. He has connected for five homers in his last five games at Citi Field.
The Cardinals won despite getting outhit 10-3. They took three of four in the series, and DeJong homered in each victory.
“Nothing comes to mind,” DeJong said of his mastery of the Mets.
DeJong connected off Chris Flexen (0-3) for his solo drive.
“He hung a 3-1 slider. I was looking fastball and I just reacted,” DeJong said. “I thought they were pitching around me early in the count and they challenged me late and I was ready.”
The loss was the latest in which Mets relievers couldn’t shut down an opponent.
New York’s bullpen has allowed 15 earned runs over its last 20 1/3 innings.
“The tale of the game was that they were one swing away, we were one swing away and they made one good swing,” manager Mickey Callaway added. “They got the big one. We didn’t.”
The Cardinals rallied against New York’s bullpen in each of their wins in series.
“You talked about resilience, we talked about different ways we beat people,” Cardinals manager Mike Shildt said. “The entire series was indicative of that.”
Paul Goldschmidt hit a prodigious home run off the facade of the second deck and scored twice for St. Louis, which went 5-5 on its season-long 10-game road trip.
Robinson Cano returned from the injured list and doubled and scored a run, and Dominic Smith had two hits in his first career start in the leadoff spot for New York, which is 5-5 over its last 10 games.
Mets starter Jason Vargas exited in the fourth inning with a cramp in his left calf. He fouled a ball off his foot and was pulled during the at-bat. He allowed three runs over four innings, matching the number of runs he’d allowed over his previous 22 innings.
Vargas anticipated being able to make his next start.
Andrew Miller (3-2) pitched a scoreless seventh to earn the victory and Carlos Martinez went two innings for his second save.
Pinch-hitter Todd Frazier reached far over the plate and, with one hand, blooped an opposite-field single to right with one out in the Mets ninth. Frazier shared a quick laugh at first base with Martinez, who then got pinch-hitter Wilson Ramos to ground into a game-ending double play.
Goldschmidt’s first-inning homer was the only hit the Cardinals could muster in the first seven innings against Vargas and Wilmer Font. Yadier Molina’s ninth-inning single was the only other Cardinal to reach with a hit.
Dakota Hudson struggled early, falling behind eight of the first 12 batters, but rebounded to keep St. Louis in the game, allowing three runs over six innings. The Cardinals have won each of his last six starts.
J.D. Davis and Adeiny Hechavarria each had an RBI for New York.
Padres 14, Rockies 13
DENVER — The Padres and Rockies set a modern-era record by combining for 92 runs in a four-game series, with San Diego pitcher Matt Strahm drawing a pinch-hit, bases-loaded walk in the ninth inning to rally past Colorado.
It was just another wacky day at Coors Field, especially in this split series where the Rockies outscored the Padres 48-44 while the teams combined for 131 hits. Colorado’s Charlie Blackmon became the first player since at least 1900 with 15 hits in a four-game series, according to STATS. Adding to the zaniness: the finale was delayed once to clean up a big puddle in foul territory despite sunny skies, and again later because of weather.
Trailing 13-10 in the ninth, Wil Myers had an RBI single and Greg Garcia promptly tied it with a two-out, two-run triple off closer Wade Davis (1-2). The Rockies brought in starter Jon Gray, who intentionally walked two batters to face Strahm. Gray fell behind 3-1 before throwing a strike. Taking all the way, Strahm watched a fastball narrowly miss for ball four.
Gerardo Reyes (3-0) earned the win by striking out three in the eighth. Kirby Yates threw a perfect ninth for his 24th save.
Dodgers 3, Cubs 2
LOS ANGELES — Russell Martin singled in the go-ahead run in the eighth inning off Steve Cishek (1-4), Alex Verdugo made a game-saving catch for the final out and Los Angeles rallied to beat Chicago.
Cody Bellinger hit his 23rd homer in front of his parents on Father’s Day.
Kenley Jansen earned his 21st save the hard way. He gave up a leadoff single to Albert Almora Jr. and walked Jason Heyward to put the tying and go-ahead runs on base. Pinch-hitter Kyle Schwarber grounded out, moving Almora to third and Heyward to second. Pinch-hitter Victor Caratini bounced a short grounder to the right side, and Jansen fielded and fired home to get Almora at the plate for the second out.
With Heyward at third, Javier Baez flied out to center and Verdugo made a running catch to preserve the win, diving onto his stomach shortly after the ball fell into his glove.
Ross Stripling (3-2) got the victory with one inning of relief.
Braves 15, Phillies 1
ATLANTA — Josh Donaldson homered for the third straight game, Mike Foltynewicz allowed only one run in six innings and the Braves beat the Phillies.
The Braves, who had their eight-game winning streak snapped with a 6-5 loss to the Phillies on Saturday night, won two of three in the series. Atlanta leads Philadelphia by 2¢ games in the NL East.
Mike Foltynewicz (2-5) walked five batters but allowed only four hits with six strikeouts.
Vince Velasquez (2-4) lasted 2 1/3 innings in his first start since May 6.
Nationals 15, Diamondbacks 5
WASHINGTON — Matt Adams homered twice and drove in a career-high seven runs, Anibal Sanchez got his 100th career victory, and the Nationals beat the Diamondbacks.
Adams, Anthony Rendon and Kurt Suzuki homered off Arizona reliever Zack Godley, and Adams added a grand slam against Stefan Crichton in the eighth.
Adams has nine career multihomer games.
Sanchez (3-6) pitched six innings, allowing two runs and six hits while striking out three.
Archie Bradley (2-4) took the loss.
Brewers 5, Giants 3
SAN FRANCISCO — Eric Thames and Jesus Aguilar homered to help the Brewers avoid a sweep with a victory over the Giants.
Christian Yelich had two doubles, extending his season-high hitting streak to 13 games. The reigning NL MVP is batting .472 (25 for 53) with five homers over that stretch.
Matt Albers (3-2) pitched the fifth for the win. Josh Hader pitched a perfect two final innings, striking out three, to get his 17th save in 18 chances.
Thames’ homer, his 10th of the season, off Giants starter Jeff Samardzija (3-6) in the fifth gave the Brewers a 4-2 lead.
Pirates 5, Marlins 4
MIAMI — Josh Bell’s go-ahead double in the seventh helped lead the Pirates over the Marlins.
The Pirates rallied from a 4-2 deficit on Corey Dickerson’s pinch-hit RBI double off Miami starter Sandy Alcantara in the sixth and took the lead in the seventh against reliever Nick Anderson (2-3) on Melky Cabrera’s game-tying triple and Bell’s double that scored Cabrera.
Richard Rodriguez (1-3) pitched a scoreless sixth and Austin Dean closed the game for this 16th save.
AMERICAN LEAGUE
Red Sox 8, Orioles 6, 10 innings
BALTIMORE — Rafael Devers led off the 10th inning with a home run after Marco Hernandez tied it with a solo shot in ninth, and the Red Sox beat the Orioles.
After winning the first two games of the series in blowout fashion, the Red Sox used some late heroics to complete the sweep and extend their winning streak to five.
Mychal Givens (0-4) served up a 1-0 pitch that Devers slammed far over the center-field wall. Mookie Betts and Christian Vazquez added two-out, two-run singles off David Hess.
Brandon Workman (5-1) worked the ninth for the Red Sox.
Boston’s eighth pitcher, Josh Smith, gave up a two-run homer to Stevie Wilkerson and a bases-empty drive to Trey Mancini in the 10th.
Indians 8, Tigers 0
DETROIT — Trevor Bauer pitched his first shutout as a pro, ending the longest winless streak of his career as the Indians beat the Tigers.
Bauer (5-6) gave up four hits, struck out eight and walked none. This was his 224th start since being drafted out of UCLA, including 166 in the majors.
Rookie Oscar Mercado drove in four runs and Jason Kipnis homered and drove in three.
The Indians are 18-7 against Detroit since the beginning of last season and outscored them 25-6 in this set at Comerica Park.
Spencer Turnbull (3-6) allowed a season-high six earned runs.
Rays 6, Angels 5
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Yandy Diaz hit an RBI single during Tampa Bay’s two-run eighth inning, and the Rays held off Los Angeles’ late rally to beat the Angels.
Mike Trout hit a two-run homer off Diego Castillo in the ninth to make it a one-run game. After Shohei Ohtani singled and went to second on Albert Pujols’ grounder, Castillo completed his seventh save by striking Kole Calhoun.
Tommy Pham put the Rays ahead 4-3 with a solo shot against Griffin Canning (2-3) in the fifth.
Royals 8, Twins 6
MINNEAPOLIS — Martin Maldonado celebrated Father’s Day by wearing a blue necktie on his chest protector and had three hits to lift the Royals over the Twins.
Maldonado had several names scribbled on the tie, along with “Happy Father’s Day.” Pittsburgh Pirates backstop Elias Diaz wore the same tie in a game against Atlanta, which appeared to be provided by equipment manufacturer All-Star.
Jorge Lopez (1-6) pitched 2 1/3 innings in relief for the win.
Martin Perez (7-3) surrendered five runs — four earned — in 6 2/3 innings for Minnesota.
Blue Jays 12, Astros 0
HOUSTON — Trent Thornton shut down his former team into the seventh inning, Teoscar Hernandez hit two of Toronto’s five home runs and the Blue Jays hammered the Astros.
Freddy Galvis and Hernandez each hit three-run homers in a seven-run sixth inning.
Hernandez added a solo drive in the ninth inning off Tyler White, who started the game at first base.
Thornton (2-5) scattered six singles, struck out seven and walked three in 6 2/3 innings.
Brad Peacock (6-4) went five innings and allowed four runs for the second straight start.
Mariners 6, Athletics 3
OAKLAND, Calif. — Kyle Seager hit a two-run double soon after right fielder Mark Canha appeared to lose a flyball in the sun, and the Mariners rallied in the eighth inning to beat the Athletics.
Mallex Smith homered for the second time in three games for the last-place Mariners, a day after they traded AL home run leader Edwin Encarnacion to the New York Yankees.
Mike Leake (6-6) matched his season high with seven strikeouts in seven innings. Roenis Elias pitched the ninth for his seventh save.
INTERLEAGUE
Reds 11, Rangers 3
CINCINNATI — Jesse Winker homered and set career highs with four hits and five RBIs, Yasiel Puig added a two-run shot, and the Reds beat the Rangers to avoid a three-game sweep.
Sonny Gray (3-5) worked around Shin-Soo Choo’s solo home run and Hunter Pence’s two-run shot to finish five innings in a game that was delayed at the start by 1 hour, 34 minutes.
Ariel Jurado (4-3), who won each of his previous three starts, lasted three batters into the fourth inning.
