Cardinals hang on New York's late rally falls short 10-9

NEW YORK -- Jason Isringhausen and the Cardinals cut it close at the end.

Isringhausen threw three wild pitches that helped the New York Mets score five runs in the bottom of the ninth inning before the Cardinals held on for a 10-9 victory Saturday.

"That was the weirdest inning I've ever been a part of," Isringhausen said.

Rookie Bo Hart hit his first career grand slam, Albert Pujols hit his 30th homer and J.D. Drew also connected as the Cardinals built a big lead.

Down 10-4, Vance Wilson started the Mets ninth by striking out but reaching on Isringhausen's wild pitch. A passed ball and an error by Pujols kept the inning going.

"We made it more interesting than a lot of people would have liked," Isringhausen said.

Pedro Borbon Jr. relieved with two outs and gave up an RBI double to Raul Gonzalez and Roger Cedeno's fourth hit, a two-run single that made it 10-9.

Esteban Yan then took over and allowed a single to Jose Reyes that put runners on first and third. But Yan retired Wilson on a liner to left field -- Miguel Cairo struggled to make the catch -- for his first save.

"It's frustrating because you try to have a good at-bat and that was a good at-bat," Wilson said.

Said Mets manager Art Howe: "Vance hit the ball too hard."

"Sometimes you can do that. It stayed up," Howe said.

New York dropped its their third in a row despite getting a season-high 17 hits. Mike Matheny drove in four runs for St. Louis, which won with 10 hits.

"That's as close as you can come and still come away a winner," Cardinals manager Tony La Russa said.

Hart and J.D. Drew hit consecutive home runs with two outs in a five-run fourth inning that made it 7-1.

"I hadn't hit a grand slam since Little League until earlier this year at Memphis. A little bigger deal this time," Hart said.

Pujols launched a 440-foot solo shot in the first inning. He extended his hitting streak to 17 games, matching his career high.

Brett Tomko (7-7) went 5 2-3 innings for the win, allowing three runs and nine hits.

Jae Seo (5-8) lost his sixth straight decision. The Mets have not won in his last eight starts.

Seo allowed seven runs and seven hits in just four innings.

The Cardinals led 2-1 when they loaded the bases in the fourth on walks to Tino Martinez and Mike Matheny wrapped around Cairo's double.

Hart lined an 0-2 pitch into the left-center field bleachers for his second major league homer. Hart had struck out in his first two at-bats against Seo.

Drew followed with his 12th home run. It was the second game in a row that the Cardinals hit the Mets with a big inning, having scored six runs in the eighth inning Friday night in an 8-2 victory.

Matheny had an RBI grounder in the second and added a three-run double in the seventh off Edwin Almonte.

Tony Clark hit his 11th homer, a two-run shot in the sixth for the Mets.

Notes: When Hart and Drew homered in the fourth, it was the seventh time this season the Cardinals had hit back-to-back homers. ... The Mets recalled RHP Grant Roberts from his rehabilitation assignment but he remains on the 60-day disabled list. ... Ty Wigginton doubled in the Mets eighth. He has 24 doubles, tops among NL rookies.