Alec Burleson snaps power drought with a 3-run homer, leading Cardinals past Mets

NEW YORK (AP) — Alec Burleson hit his first homer in almost nine months Friday night, a three-run blast that powered the St. Louis Cardinals to a 4-2 win over the New York Mets. Burleson's second-inning round-tripper off José Buttó was his first since he homered against the Minnesota Twins last Aug. 3. He has 10 career longballs in 143 games. J.D. Martinez went 2-for-4 with an RBI double in his Mets debut. Martinez signed a one-year contract on March 23 but was sidelined by lower back stiffness. Willson Contreras hit a 445-foot homer off the facade along the second deck in left field in the third for the Cardinals. Miles Mikolas (2-3) gave up two runs in 5 2/3 innings to lower his ERA from 6.49