Mets at the plate: Jose Reyes opened the game with an infield hit, then drove in a run with another single in the fourth inning. Outfielder Brady Clark, a late non-roster invitee, rapped out two singles and stole a base, while Moises Alou and David Wright each drove in runs. Ruben Gotay added a solo homer in the bottom of the ninth.

Cardinals at the plate: Juan Gonzalez ensured that Johan Santana's Mets debut would be a memorable one, drilling the first pitch he saw over the left-field fence for a three-run homer. Albert Pujols and Brendan Ryan also knocked extra-base hits off Santana, with a double and a triple, respectively. Pujols later added a solo home run in the sixth.

Mets on the mound: Santana, Santana, Santana. He wasn't spectacular, though the new Mets ace said he was generally pleased with an outing that saw him allow three runs over two innings. Aaron Heilman and Billy Wagner each pitched a perfect inning for the Mets, while reliever Duaner Sanchez allowed one run after missing Thursday's game with "general soreness."

Cardinals on the mound: Though the Mets didn't hit Adam Wainwright particularly hard -- none of their five hits off him went for extra bases -- they strung enough singles together to touch him for two runs in three innings. Ryan Franklin walked two batters in relief, though he escaped his inning unharmed.

Grapefruit League records: Mets 0-3, Cardinals 2-0.

Up next: Matt Wise and Jorge Sosa, two relievers competing for a spot in a crowded Mets bullpen, will both see their first Grapefruit League action in a 1:10 p.m. ET game against the Dodgers on Saturday at Tradition Field. Jonathon Niese, the top left-hander in the Mets' farm system, will start the game opposite Brad Penny for the Dodgers.

The Cardinals head back to Jupiter, Fla., on Saturday at 1:05 p.m. ET for the first of their seven Grapefruit League games against the Marlins. This one is a designated away game at Roger Dean Stadium, with Todd Wellemeyer, Brad Thompson, Randy Flores, Tyler Johnson, Chris Perez and Adam Ottavino all expected to pitch.