Ramón Urías homers and Cardinals hold Mets to 3 hits in 3-0 shutout

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Ramón Urías launched his first home run with St. Louis and Andre Pallante combined with four relievers on a three-hitter as the Cardinals defeated the New York Mets 3-0 on Tuesday night.

Iván Herrera had a two-run double in the third inning, and Urías drove Richard Lovelady’s second pitch over the left-center wall in the seventh.

Pallante (1-0) pitched five-plus innings, allowing three hits and three walks while striking out three.

He was lifted for Gordon Graceffo in the sixth after giving up a double to Juan Soto and a walk to Bo Bichette to start the inning. Graceffo, recalled from Triple-A Memphis before the game, got Luis Robert Jr. to fly to center and Jared Young to line into a 6-3 double play.

Ryne Stanek and JoJo Romero each worked an inning before Riley O’Brien pitched a perfect ninth for his first save this season.

JJ Wetherholt had two hits and scored a run. The rookie has reached safely in each of his first five major league games.

Kodai Senga allowed two runs and four hits over six innings in an encouraging outing for New York. Senga (0-1) struck out nine, including the side in the second and sixth. He walked three.

Soto had a pair of hits and has reached safely in all 40 career games against St. Louis. It is the longest streak to begin a career versus the Cardinals.

Mets RHP Freddy Peralta (1-0) faces LHP Matthew Liberatore (0-0) in the rubber game of the series Wednesday.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

New York Mets' Juan Soto (22) watches his double next to St. Louis Cardinals catcher Ivan Herrera in the sixth inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, March 31, 2026, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Joe Puetz)

New York Mets starting pitcher Kodai Senga throws in the first inning of a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals, Tuesday, March 31, 2026, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Joe Puetz)

St. Louis Cardinals' JJ Wetherholt, right, watches his single next to New York Mets catcher Luis Torrens in the third inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, March 31, 2026, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Joe Puetz)

St. Louis Cardinals' Ivan Herrera hits a two run double in the third inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets, Tuesday, March 31, 2026, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Joe Puetz)

St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Andre Pallante (53) throws in the first inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets, Tuesday, March 31, 2026, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Joe Puetz)

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — In what was likely his final home appearance for Argentina's national squad, Lionel Messi scored a goal and provided an assist in a 5-0 rout of Zambia on Tuesday night in a farewell friendly ahead of the World Cup.

The 38-year-old Messi set up Julián Álvarez in the fourth minute and then scored in the 43rd at La Bombonera stadium in Buenos Aires.

The crowd gave him a standing ovation and pleaded with him to help Argentina win another World Cup. The global tournament kicks off June 11 in the United States, Mexico, and Canada.

Nicolás Otamendi and Valentín Barco also scored for Argentina.

The defending world champions raised some concern after their lackluster performance last Friday in a 2-1 victory over Mauritania.

In the lead-up to the Zambia friendly, coach Lionel Scaloni had warned that if the team didn’t improve its performance he would take drastic measures regarding the 26-man World Cup squad, which must be submitted by May 30.

For the last home game before the World Cup, Scaloni started with a lineup similar to that one that defeated France in the 2022 final, with the notable exclusion of midfielder Rodrigo De Paul, who is recovering from a muscle injury and performed poorly against Mauritania.

Argentina, which also won the World Cup in 1978 and 1986, will open against Algeria on June 16 in Group J, followed by games against Austria on June 22 and Jordan on June 27.

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Temmates congratulate Argentina's Nicolas Otamendi after he scored his side's third goal against Zambia during a friendly soccer match in Buenos AIres, Argentina, Tuesday, March 31, 2026. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)

Argentina's Valentin Barco celebrates scoring his side's 5th goal against Zambia during a friendly soccer match in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Tuesday, March 31, 2026. (AP Photo/Gustavo Garello)

Argentina's Lionel Messi celebrates scoring his side's second goal against Zambia during a friendly soccer match in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Tuesday, March 31, 2026. (AP Photo/Gustavo Garello)

Argentina's Lionel Messi celebrates scoring his side's second goal against Zambia during a friendly soccer match in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Tuesday, March 31, 2026. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)

Argentina's Lionel Messi celebrates scoring his side's second goal against Zambia during a friendly soccer match in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Tuesday, March 31, 2026. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)