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 The 5 1/2 years in the minors. Being traded in July 2010 as a
throw-in by the San Diego Padres as they chased a National League
West title. Going 5-12 last year at two stops in the Cardinals'
chain with an ERA approaching 5.00.
It was all worth it for Greenwood, 26, after he won his major league
debut with 3 1/3 effective relief innings as St. Louis beat the New
York Mets 6-2.
"It was a long road to get here," Greenwood said. "You can't really
prepare for that, especially here in St. Louis. I was thinking about
all the struggles to get here."
After walking center fielder Curtis Granderson, Greenwood erased the
runner by inducing a double-play grounder from second baseman Daniel
Murphy. No one else reached base against Greenwood until Murphy and
third baseman David Wright stroked consecutive singles with one out
in the eighth.
Manager Mike Matheny brought the hook with him to the mound, but he
made Greenwood wait a few moments before taking the ball.
"I told him to sit there and enjoy it," Matheny of the standing
ovation Greenwood received from the sellout crowd of 42,808. "He
didn't have the road paved for him to get here. This kid has
persevered. He kept pitching and improving."
 Greenwood earned his shot at the majors when the Cardinals skipped
Adam Wainwright's turn in the rotation because of the ace's sore
right elbow. Carlos Martinez made his first start of the year and
was on a pitch count of about 60.
Martinez worked four innings and 59 pitches, allowing two hits and
an unearned run with four walks and three strikeouts.
Greenwood's 60 pitches not only won him a game, but kept St. Louis
from taxing its bullpen heavily.
It didn't hurt that the Cardinals (38-32) lit up New York starter
Jacob deGrom (0-4) for 12 hits and six runs over 4 1/3 innings,
knocking him out with five hits and four runs in the fifth.
Included in that outburst was a run-scoring single by left fielder
Matt Holliday, his 1,000th career RBI.
"I mentioned it to him and he had a big smile on his face," Matheny
said of Holliday. "He realized it was a big accomplishment. He's a
big baseball fan. He knows what this means."
Right fielder Allen Craig plated Holliday with a double, and first
baseman Matt Adams lofted a triple to right to make it 5-1.
Shortstop Jhonny Peralta tacked on an RBI single to send deGrom to
the showers.
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Center fielder Jon Jay started all three scoring rallies for St.
Louis, going 2-for-3 with three runs and upping his average to .307.
Craig collected three hits, including an RBI single in the first,
and Adams finished with two hits, including a run-plating single
that broke a 1-1 tie in the third.
The Mets (31-39) managed just five hits while losing for the 10th
time in 13 games. Left fielder Eric Young, Jr. said it was tough to
face two inexperienced pitchers.
"You have to learn on the fly," he said of hitting against Martinez
and Greenwood. "You gather info as the game goes on. Now we have
them in the book for next time."
Pinch hitter Chris Young delivered an RBI single in the eighth for
New York, but St. Louis reliever Seth Maness got the last four outs
for his first save.
As for the fresh-faced winner, it was a moment to savor.
"It was a pretty unbelievable night from start to finish," Greenwood
said.
NOTES: St. Louis signed its first-round draft pick Luke Weaver, a
right-handed pitcher out of Florida State, to a deal calling for a
slot-mandated $1.8 million bonus. The No. 27 overall pick, Weaver
will start his pro career in the rookie-level Gulf Coast League. ...
The Mets activated OF Eric Young Jr. from the 15-day disabled list
and started him in left field, batting ninth. He went 1-for-4. OF
Andrew Brown, who hit .182 with two homers and seven RBIs in 44
at-bats, was optioned to Triple-A Las Vegas. ... Cardinals GM John
Mozeliak said that RHP Joe Kelly (torn hamstring) progressed enough
that the team could activate him in the next two to three weeks.
Kelly, who was the No. 5 starter to begin the season, was injured
April 16 in Milwaukee trying to beat out an infield hit.
[© 2014 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
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