ST. LOUIS — Tony La Russa was defiant. It was just one loss, nothing more.
The St. Louis Cardinals manager insisted his playoff-hopeful team wouldn’t be crushed after blowing a four-run cushion in the ninth inning and watching the New York Mets rally for an 8-6 win Thursday.
“Don’t make a mistake and say we’re heartbroken,” La Russa barked. “Our heart’s beating. We won the series, get ready for (today).”
The loss dropped St. Louis two games behind the idle Atlanta Braves for the wild card, with each team having six games left. The Cardinals lost for only the third time in 16 games.
Shortstop Rafael Furcal misplayed a potential double-play grounder at the start of the Mets’ six-run burst, fueling the comeback with his fifth error in six games.
“I think he probably tried to hurry it,” La Russa said. “I think he’s just trying to do too much. He does a lot, so it’s hard to fault him.”
Ahead 6-2, the Cardinals walked three batters in helping the Mets take the lead. Willie Harris drew a walk to begin the inning and capped it with a tiebreaking, two-run single with two out. Marc Rzepczynski (0-3) allowed Jose Reyes’ RBI single.
Earlier in the game, the Cardinals were much looser. Corey Patterson put out a small fire in the dugout after players had given Shane Robinson a hot foot. Although some in the press box saw flames, La Russa hadn’t been aware of the prank.
“There was no danger. We weren’t going to let the guy’s pants catch on fire,” Patterson said.
Cardinals suffer dispiriting defeat
With most of the division races settled, the remaining drama in baseball centers around the wild-card races, where St. Louis is chasing Atlanta in the National League and Los Angeles and Tampa Bay are chasing Boston in the American League. Where things stand:
NATIONAL LEAGUE
St. Louis crumbles
The Cardinals were three outs from moving within a game of Atlanta in the wild-card chase but blew a four-run lead in the ninth inning and went on to lose 8-6 to the Mets on Thursday. Three walks and an error helped the Cardinals implode.
Bottom line
St. Louis dropped to two games back of idle Atlanta. Each team has six games remaining.
AMERICAN LEAGUE
Rays gain a half-game
Tampa Bay unloaded on the watered-down Yankees for a 15-8 victory Thursday, a night after New York clinched the AL East title. The Rays avoided a four- game sweep and pulled within two games of idle Boston in the wild-card race.
Angels lose a crusher
Edwin Encarnacion hit a game-ending home run just inside the foul pole in the 12th inning and Toronto beat Los Angeles 4-3, dealing the Angels another blow in their chase for a playoff berth.
Bottom line
Tampa Bay is two games behind Boston, and Los Angeles is three back. All three teams have six games left.
