(AP) -- Allen Craig hit a tiebreaking, two-run homer in the eighth inning and the St. Louis Cardinals found a bit of missing pop, beating the New York Mets 5-4 Monday and stopping their season-worst losing streak at five.

The Cardinals have never been swept in a four-game series in New York.

The World Series champions had been outscored 19-1 by the Mets and no-hit by Johan Santana before salvaging the finale at Citi Field.

Pinch hitter Scott Hairston and Lucas Duda homered for the Mets, who missed a chance to move all alone into the NL East lead.

Craig connected one out after Matt Holliday hit a leadoff singleagainst Jon Rauch (3-5) for a 5-3 lead.

The Mets got closer in the bottom half when Andres Torres hit a long sacrifice fly, but closer Jason Motte retired David Wright on an inning-ending liner to right field with a runner at third base.

Motte finished for his ninth save in 12 chances. Marc Rzepczynski (1-3) wound up with the win despite allowing Hairston's eighth career pinch-hit homer in the seventh, a two-run shot with two outs that made it 3-all.

(Copyright ©2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)