Suppan struggles in first outing

JUPITER, Fla. -- Xavier Nady went 4-for-4 with a grand slam and six RBIs in his Mets debut, leading New York to a 12-7 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals on Thursday.

Not a bad way to stake an early claim to a starting spot.

After being acquired in a trade with San Diego during the offseason, Nady is competing with Victor Diaz this spring for playing time in right field.

"Nady already has my MVP vote," Mets third baseman David Wright said. "Every ball he hit, he hit hard."

Carlos Delgado was 3-for-3 in his first game with the Mets, who roughed up Cardinals starter Jeff Suppan for nine runs and nine hits in 1 1/3 innings.

All-Star closer Billy Wagner also made his first appearance for New York. He allowed one hit and struck out one in one inning.

Albert Pujols, the reigning NL MVP, hit a three-run homer for the Cardinals.

The teams combined for 24 hits and 10 walks.

"It wasn't a very pretty game," St. Louis manager Tony La Russa said.

New York starter Steve Trachsel was lifted after allowing a three-run homer to catcher Yadier Molina in the second inning. Trachsel got only three outs, giving up four runs and two hits. The right-hander has been fighting the flu and has lost six pounds since last Thursday.

"Even in the first inning I didn't feel great," he said. "I had no energy at all. I felt that during warmups."

The Mets fielded their projected starting lineup with the exception of Ramon Castro, who was catching in place of Paul Lo Duca, and Diaz, who was in the outfield for Cliff Floyd.