Bright spot for Cardinals: Rookie Reyes remains untouchable five games into career

Five games into his career, Alex Reyes remains perfect.

Reyes, 21, was one of the few bright spots Tuesday night in the St. Louis Cardinals’ 7-4 loss to the New York Mets. He threw 2 1/3 scoreless innings, walked one and struck out four in relief of Jaime Garcia, who was at the opposite end of the spectrum in terms of effectiveness.

Reyes has four walks and 13 strikeouts in his first 9 1/3 innings, all in relief, allowing just five hits.

“I’ve just been trying to keep the ball down and be consistent,” said Reyes, whose fastball reached 99.1 mph when he struck out Justin Ruggiano in the sixth. “I’m not thinking about that kind of stuff (being unscored upon). I’m just executing pitches.”

Reyes has been a starter in his minor-league career, and that’s likely where he will be employed at the big-league level, perhaps next season.

“I’ve always been a starter,” he said. “Right now, I’m focused on relieving and just executing pitches. I try and go out there and execute the pitches Yadi (Molina) puts down and just trust my stuff and keep the ball down. (Molina) has been great. He’s a leader in this clubhouse.”

Reyes acknowledges the enjoyment he feels working in relief.

“It’s similar to a start except you come into the middle of a game,” he said. “I feel the same as I was when I was starting in Triple-A. My body has been feeling good. I’ve been throwing the ball fairly good.”

Garcia has, too, at times this season. Tuesday was not one of those times. The left-hander permitted home runs to Wilmer Flores in the first and Ruggiano in the fourth.

Garcia needed 64 pitches to record 12 outs, and after the Cardinals scored three in the first to tie the game, Garcia promptly handed the lead back by allowing two runs in the second.

“He didn’t have that movement and didn’t get to work ahead in counts,” Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said. “It was one of those tough ones.

“What it really comes down to is you’re down three, the offense comes back and gives you three. We need a shutdown right there. Those two runs (in the second) take a lot of wind out of your sail. That was something that was a momentum shift.”

Reyes’ only shaky inning was the seventh when he allowed a one-out walk to Asdrubal Cabrera, who went to third on a balk. Reyes intentionally walked Yoenis Cespedes before Zach Duke relieved and got pinch-hitter James Loney to bounce into a 6-4-3 double play.

“He did a nice job,” Matheny said of Reyes. “He was getting pushed a little bit, but he was still efficient enough. We’ll see how he rebounds (physically). We’ve got to be smart.”