New York — Staked to an early lead, Jacob deGrom pitched into the seventh inning and won his career-best seventh straight start as the Mets beat the St. Louis Cardinals 7-3 on Wednesday.

New York jumped on Mike Leake (6-8) for seven runs in the first two innings and cruised from there behind deGrom to snap a three-game losing streak.

DeGrom settled down after a 25-pitch first inning, allowing seven hits and striking out three. He was pulled with two outs in the seventh after Luke Voit's double scored Greg Garcia for the Cardinals' first run.

St. Louis had its three-game losing streak snapped.

The Mets sent eight batters to the plate in the first inning and strung together three straight run-scoring hits with two outs, capped by Wilmer Flores' RBI single.

New York added four more runs off Leake in the second, only one of them earned. Third baseman Jedd Gyorko's throw sailed into right field on what could have been a double-play grounder by Astrubal Cabrera. Jay Bruce followed with an RBI single and Yoenis Cespedes doubled to right to make it 5-0.

Jose Reyes drove in two more runs with a single to center, and Leake, who came in with the sixth-best ERA in the National League, was pulled after two innings.

In the eighth, St. Louis loaded the bases with two outs and Magneuris Sierra drove in two runs with a single off Jerry Blevins. Out of pinch hitters, Cardinals manager Mike Matheney sent pitcher Adam Wainwright to plate, and he drew a walk to chase Blevins.

Addison Reed struck out Voit to end the threat and retired the Cardinals in the ninth for his 15th save in 17 chances.

Just being cautious

Cespedes, who missed Sunday's game with a sore hip, drew the attention of manager Terry Collins after doubling in the second inning. He was slow out of the batter's box and gingerly went in standing at second base. After a brief timeout, he stayed in the game. In the third, Cespedes didn't run at full speed on a fly ball to left that dropped in front of him for a hit.

Trainer's room

Mets 2B Neil Walker is expected to begin a rehab assignment on Friday with Triple-A Las Vegas. Walker, who has been on the disabled list since June 15 with a partial tear in his right hamstring, expects to join the Mets on Monday in San Diego. Veteran Astrubal Cabrera has been playing second base in Walker's absence and said he's been taking grounders at third and first in anticipation of his teammate's return.

Up next

Cardinals RHP Lance Lynn (8-6, 3.40) starts Thursday afternoon in the season series finale against Mets RHP Seth Lugo (4-2, 4.50). Lynn, who has won his last two starts, is 3-3 with a 2.45 ERA in six career starts (eight appearances) against New York, but holds a 0-3 record with a 3.55 ERA in two starts (three appearances) at Citi Field.