NEW YORK — If there was a series meant to showcase the trials and tribulations of a development-focused season, the St. Louis Cardinals’ four-game set against the New York Mets at Citi Field certainly did the trick.

Soto’s deal came with enormous pressure to maintain the Hall of Fame caliber production he had shown throughout his entire career. Not only that, but the 26-year-old jumped from arguably the biggest brand in MLB, the New York Yankees, to their crosstown rivals, only adding fuel to that fire.

Brandon Nimmo robbed Jordan Walker of a home run in the sixth inning and singled home the tiebreaking run in the seventh as the New York Mets beat St.