Time to head west

David Wright made his first appearance in a big league game since sustaining a rib injury during the World Baseball Classic, going 0 for 3 and playing five innings for the New York Mets in a 7-2 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals.

Wright was a late scratch from the United States’ game against the Dominican Republic on march 14. He received a cortisone shot in his left side a day later.

Ruben Tejada hit a two-run double and scored on Collin Cowgill’s two-run homer in the bottom of the fourth. Cowgill was pinch hitting for Matt Harvey, who gave up three hits in four shutout innings with two walks and four strikeouts.

Cardinals pitcher Jake Westbrook allowed four runs on five hits with four walks and two strikeouts in four innings. Center fielder Jon Jay went 2 for 2.

St. Louis opens the regular season on the road Monday night against the Arizona Diamondbacks.