PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (AP) — David Freese homered in his first game in a week and the St. Louis Cardinals beat the New York Mets 3-2 Thursday. Freese had been out since March 14 with back stiffness stemming from a hard fall he took while chasing a foul ball. The 2011 World Series MVP hit a leadoff home run in the fourth and played five innings in the field.

Mets infielder Justin Turner got a hit in his return from a sprained ankle. He had a pinch-hit single in the sixth, then went from first to third on hit. Cardinals starter Adam Wainwright gave up two runs on three hits, including a two-run tr ple by Matt den Dekker, in 4 2-3 innings. He struck out three and walked three.

Mets starter Jeremy Hefner allowed two runs on five hits with three walks in five innings. Bobby Parnell pitched a perfect ninth.