NEW YORK (AP) - After a big night back home, Harrison Bader was munching happily on his postgame meal when it was time to field a few questions.
"New York-style pizza is delicious," he said. "New York-style bagels, New York-style pizza, is just good for the soul."
Bader and the streaking Cardinals are starting to taste another trip to the postseason.
Paul Goldschmidt and Nolan Arenado each hit one of St. Louis' four homers, and the Cardinals flashed some fantastic outfield defense in beating the New York Mets 11-4 on Wednesday for their fifth straight victory.
Bader homered, drove in three runs and made a timely grab at the center-field fence in his New York homecoming to help Jon Lester improve to 9-1 against the Mets. Edmundo Sosa also went deep and Goldschmidt had three hits for the Cardinals, who totaled 25 runs in a three-game sweep.
"Pretty fun series," Lester said. "The defense is unreal."
St. Louis, which jumped into playoff position Tuesday night for the first time since May 30, has won seven of eight to move 1 1/2 games ahead of the Reds for the second N.L. wild card following Cincinnati's 5-4 loss at last-place Pittsburgh. The Cardinals began the day one game ahead of San Diego, which started later in San Francisco.
"We're going to have a lot of fun down the stretch," Bader said. "Looking forward to seeing where it ends up."
Pete Alonso and Kevin Pillar homered for the fading Mets, who appear finished in the pennant race with 15 games to go. They went 1-for-14 with runners in scoring position and dropped five games behind St. Louis, with three teams in between.
"We've got to get real hot," said Jeff McNeil, who was a home run short of the cycle. "We're fighting for our lives now."
Tyler O'Neill laced a two-run double in a five-run first inning against rookie Tylor Megill (3-5), who was coming off an outstanding start against the Yankees.
Running on an 0-2 pitch, Sosa scored all the way from first base when Bader blooped a two-run single to center.
New York had a couple of chances to get back in it, but Bader and substitute right fielder Lars Nootbaar came through with clutch catches.
The speedy Bader sprinted to the wall near the 408-foot sign and left his feet to snag Javier Baez's long drive with two on to end the fifth.
Nootbaar, moments after entering on defense in a double switch, got pumped up when he robbed Alonso of a three-run homer to keep it 8-4 in the seventh.
"We might still be playing if he doesn't make that catch," Bader said. "He had a big moment there."
Lester (6-6) allowed three runs - two earned - and six hits in six innings. The 37-year-old lefty struck out seven and walked none, boosting his record to 3-1 in nine outings for St. Louis since his July 30 trade from Washington.
"I thought he was fantastic and gave us everything he had. He was a real pro," Cardinals manager Mike Shildt said. "He got by on stuff and he got by on guts."
Bader, born in Bronxville just north of New York City, had a cheering section throughout the series. He greeted local Little Leaguers at Citi Field on Monday, joined friends in the stands during batting practice Tuesday and high-fived his parents and uncle Joseph in the front row after hitting a solo homer Wednesday.
"It's really special, there's no doubt about it," Bader said. "I felt really relaxed every time I look over and see my mom in the stands."
Notes: Cardinals RHP Jack Flaherty will likely throw about 20-25 pitches today in his first bullpen since straining his right shoulder in late August. St. Louis still hopes the front-line starter (9-2, 3.08 ERA) can offer something in relief this year. "He's willing to do whatever it takes. He just wants to pitch and contribute," Shildt said. Cardinals RHP Dakota Hudson (Tommy John surgery) will aim to throw around 75 pitches in a rehab start Friday, his first for Triple-A Memphis after four with Double-A Springfield. ... Mets CF Brandon Nimmo is expected back from the injured list Friday night against Philadelphia, two weeks after straining his right hamstring. Noah Syndergaard threw about 15-20 pitches to Nimmo and might have another live batting practice session before heading out on a minor league rehab assignment. Syndergaard was a touch below the mid-90s (mph) with his fastball, manager Luis Rojas said, but wasn't going "full tilt." The right-hander has been slowed in his recovery from March 2020 Tommy John surgery by a sore elbow and a positive COVID-19 test. He hopes to return in a relief role before the season ends. Reserve infielder Jose Peraza was reinstated from the 10-day injured list. Peraza had been out since July 20 with a fractured middle finger on his right hand. OF Albert Almora Jr. was optioned to Triple-A Syracuse. ... The Cardinals off today before opening a pivotal three-game series at home Friday night against the Padres. RHP Miles Mikolas (0-2, 5.47 ERA) starts against his former team, seeking his first major league victory in two years. St. Louis also will celebrate the 10th anniversary of its 2011 World Series championship this weekend. ... Mets RHP Taijuan Walker (7-9, 4.29 ERA) pitches Friday night at Citi Field against ex-Met Zack Wheeler (13-9, 2.86) and the Phillies.