Mets Defeat Cardinals 4-1, Vientos Hits First Home Run

Mark Vientos hit his first home run of the season, igniting a four-run second inning that helped the New York Mets defeat the St. Louis Cardinals 4-1 in the opener of a four-game series. Vientos, who had a breakout power season last year, has struggled at the plate so far but showed signs of improvement, with notable gains in plate discipline and a reduced strikeout rate. Francisco Lindor contributed three hits and made a smart baserunning play, while starter Griffin Canning delivered his best outing of the year, allowing just one run over six innings. The Mets' strong pitching continued as their bullpen closed out the win, maintaining their MLB-leading ERA. Fantasy managers and fans alike are hopeful that Vientos' performance could signal the start of a power surge. The Cardinals' Brendan Donovan extended his hitting streak to 13 games, the longest active streak in the majors.