NEW YORK -- For a team thats historically been known for pitching, speed and defense, these St. Louis Cardinals sure are hitting a lot of home runs lately.Especially Jedd Gyorko.Gyorko connected in both games of a doubleheader Tuesday and the Cardinals wound up with a split against the New York Mets. St. Louis won the opener 3-2, then lost 3-1.Anytime you can win the first one, you hope to win the second one, Gyorko said. I think the way we pitched today, we probably shouldve won two. But obviously any day that you win a game, its a good day.Gyorko has homered seven times in nine games, giving him 14 this season. Last Wednesday, he homered in both ends of a doubleheader sweep over San Diego.Hes amazing. Hes doing a great job, Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said between games at Citi Field. Hes an interesting player. I dont think people realize how good he is.The Cardinals lead the NL with 138 home runs, already one more than they hit all of last year. The last time they topped the league was 1998, the Elias Sports Bureau said, when Mark McGwire hit 70 of their 223.St. Louis has homered in 17 straight games, its best streak since a team-record 19-game string in 2006.No one on the Cardinals is among the league leaders in home runs, but eight players have reached double digits.Up and down the lineup, youve got guys who can on any given night go out and hit the ball over the fence. Thats a luxury to have, that any guy in the lineup can change a game, Gyorko said.Gyorkos homer in the second inning accounted for the Cardinals only run against Bartolo Colon (9-5).The 43-year-old Colon struck out eight and walked none. He retired 14 of his last 15 batters, featuring a fastball that barely reaches 90 mph.Anytime hes got that command, hes going to be pretty good, Gyorko said.Addison Reed worked the eighth and Jeurys Familia closed for his 36th save and 52nd in a row during the regular season.Asdrubal Cabrera ended his 0-for-32 rut with runners in scoring position with an RBI double and added a sacrifice fly off Jaime Garcia (7-7). Wilmer Flores doubled and singled twice, and Mets manager Terry Collins helped, too, winning his third replay challenge of the day.In the opener, Gyorko homered off hard-throwing Noah Syndergaard (9-5) for a 3-0 lead in the third.A couple hours later, Gyorko faced the crafty Colon.Its definitely a difference, but youve just got to get a game plan for each certain guy and then just try to execute, he said.Carlos Martinez (10-6) gave up a two-run homer to Rene Rivera and left the opener after the fifth inning. Three relievers finished, with Seung Hwan Oh getting his fifth save.A rainout Monday forced the first doubleheader between the Mets and Cardinals since 1999.26TH MANThe Cardinals recalled RHP Sam Tuivailala as the 26th player for the second game. He pitched a scoreless inning.UP NEXTCardinals: RHP Adam Wainwright (9-5, 4.09) is 3-0 with a 0.93 ERA in four July starts.Mets: RHP Logan Verrett (3-6, 4.14) starts Wednesday night vs. St. Louis. No one on the Cardinals active roster has batted against him. Cheap Nike MLB Jerseys . -- Mike Smith never saw his first NHL goal go in. Nike MLB Jerseys .ca looks back at the stories and moments that made the year memorable. https://www.cheapmlbjerseysjustwholesale.com/ . -- Matt Rupert scored once in regulation and again in the shootout as the London Knights extended their win streak to nine games by defeating the Owen Sound Attack 4-3 on Friday in Ontario Hockey League action. Nike NFL Jerseys 2020 . -- Whether Jeremy Hill deserves a prominent role in LSUs offence this early in the season is a matter for debate. MLB Jerseys 2020 . The 43-year-old closer, in his 19th and final big league season, has said hed like to play the outfield. Yankees manager Joe Girardi says hes thinking about allowing Rivera to do it this weekend, when the Yankees finish their season with a three-game series at the Houston Astros.Ahead of the Champions League final in Milan between Madrid rivals Real and Atletico, Sky Sports Spanish football expert Guillem Balague selects his combined XI... and there is no place for Gareth Bale. Balagues team - 4-3-3: Jan Oblak; Juanfran, Sergio Ramos, Diego Godin, Marcelo; Saul Niguez, Luka Modric, Koke; Antoine Griezmann, Karim Benzema, Cristiano Ronaldo. In goal, there is little to choose between Jan Oblak and Keylor Navas, although Oblak has had fewer shots to deal with this season. He is comfortable with the ball at his feet, strong on crosses, good on one-on-one situations and unquestionably the best goalkeeper in La Liga this season. I believe above all he is also a better example of what is expected these days from a modern goalkeeper, although it must also be said that Navas is certainly no slouch. Jan Oblak has been in fine form for Atletico this season In central defence, there is little to choose between the two sides, although in the area of full backs Dani Carvajal and Marcelo are not, in my opinion, as good defensively as Juanfran and Filipe Luis are.One thing is unquestionable; Real Madrids front three is without a single shadow of a doubt more powerful than Atleticos. Saul Niguez makes Balagues combined XI in midfield Granted, with a conversion rate of just 13 per cent, and despite a staggering goal tally this season, Ronaldo is unquestionably less efficient that he was. We look at the best of Real Madrids Cristiano Ronaldo in La Liga this season But nobody in Europe has more shots than him, and he ends the season in a rich vein of goalscoring form.dddddddddddd While he is not at his physical peak, he is certainly in better nick than he was before his last Champions League final, and the World Cup back in 2014. Antoine Griezmann has scored 32 goals for Atletico this season He will certainly be looking to make a serious impact on this game and to that end will be ably supported by the excellent Karim Benzema. who has more than compensated for him when he has fallen slightly short. Watch Griezmanns finest moments for Atletico in the Primera Division in 2015/16 The jewel in Atleticos attacking crown comes in the shape of Antoine Griezmann, who just gets better and better. He is now, in my opinion, one of the top five players in world football, not just because of his individual brilliance, but also because of his overall contribution with and without the ball for the teams cause. Welshman Gareth Bale does not make Balagues XI Also See: Ronaldos CL final form Balagues bumper preview Ramos targets CL triumph Ronaldo plays down injury scare ' ' '