The St. Louis Cardinals jumped all over Johan Santana in the first inning and got an RBI single from slugger Albert Pujols in the 13th inning to post an 8-7 victory over the New York Mets on Wednesday.

The Cardinals pounded out eight of their 16 hits in the first, scoring six runs and building a lead that the Mets whittled away at and eventually erased with a four-run eighth.

Pujols finished 3-for-7 and his lone RBI of the night came on a single to left that plated Jon Jay.

Mike MacDougal (1-0) picked up the win with a perfect 12th and Ryan Franklin earned his 19th save of the season.

Matt Holliday hit a two-run home run in the first inning and chased Santana in the sixth with a two-out RBI double to right field.

Santana yielded seven runs and 13 hits in 5 2/3 innings. He had been lights out in four previous starts against the Cardinals, going 2-0 and allowing eight runs - seven earned - and 26 hits in 31 innings.

The Mets did not fold and tied the game in the eighth, highlighted by a two-run homer by Angel Pagan and a two-run double by Ike Davis.

Pedro Feliciano (2-6) took the loss, allowing a run and a hit with a pair of walks in 1 2/3 innings.