Starter Griffin Canning had his best pitching performance of the season, Mark Vientos hit his first home run of the season and Francisco Lindor had three hits and made the smartest play of the game by getting himself into a rundown and allowing an extra run to score as the Mets improved to 12-7.

Griffin Canning gave the Mets a sick pitching performance Thursday night in more ways than one. The right-hander held the St. Louis Cardinals to one earned run and fanned eight to help the Mets open the series with a 4-1 win at Citi Field.

Canning (2-1) picked up the win Thursday against the Cardinals after allowing one run on three hits and two walks in six innings. He struck out eight. The veteran right-hander was brilliant Thursday while firing six innings for the first time this season.