Edmonds Has Power Over Mets

ST. LOUIS — Jim Edmonds broke the New York Mets’ hearts once again.

Edmonds hit his second game-winning home run against the Mets in three days, connecting in the 11th inning Sunday as the St. Louis Cardinals completed a three-game sweep with a 4-3 victory.

“It’s been awhile since I’ve done that, and to do it twice in a week, it’s been nice,” Edmonds said. “This whole year has been perfect except for the month of August. I’m in heaven.”

The Central Division-leading Cardinals have won seven of eight, are a season-best 20 games above .500, and are 5-0 in extra innings. The Mets swept St. Louis twice earlier in the season, but lost all three games of this series by one run in the final at-bat.

“They had to prove they can beat us, and they did everything they had to do this series to win three close games,” Manager Bobby Valentine said. “But I think we’re 6-3 [against St. Louis] for the season.”

Edmonds hit a ninth-inning homer Friday, and Fernando Vina hit a game-winning single Saturday.

Sunday, Edmonds led off the 11th by hitting a 1-1 pitch from Rick White (2-2) over the right-field wall for his 38th homer.

“He threw me two sliders and I didn’t know what to expect after that,” Edmonds said. “The way things have been going, I wasn’t trying to do too much.”

Edmonds hit .188 in August and is batting .238 since injured Mark McGwire left the lineup July 6.

Matt Morris (3-3) allowed two hits in two innings. He got Mike Piazza to ground into an inning-ending double play in the 10th and retired the side in order in the 11th.