The Mets played the Tampa Bay Rays on Friday afternoon as their spring training slate continued.
Here are the takeaways…
– Max Scherzer got the start in what was his final tune-up ahead of Opening Day, and started strong before running into trouble in the second inning.
With two outs in the second, Scherzer walked Josh Loweallowed a single to Jose Sirihit Francisco Mejiaand was victimized by a bloop single off the end of the bat of Yandy Diaz that dunked into shallow left-center field and drove in two runs.
That was the last time Scherzer was in trouble.
He was utterly dominant for four innings after that, allowing just one more batter to reach base, and striking out five of the last six Rays he faced.
In six innings, Scherzer allowed two runs on four hits while walking one and striking out 11. He finished spring training with a 1.53 ERA.
– Francisco Lindor roped a run-scoring double to the wall in right-center his first time up and also had an RBI single that he scorched through the left side of the infield. He finished 2-for-4 with two RBI and a run scored.
– Pete Alonso had a sacrifice fly his first time up and didn’t mess around in his next at-bat, launching a mammoth three-run homer to center field. He finished 2-for-3 with a walk, three RBI, and a run scored.
– Brett Baty entered at third base in the bottom of the seventh. He flew out to center field his only time up.
– Mark Vientos entered as a pinch hitter in the eighth inning and grounded out.
– Mark Canha went 2-for-4 with a two-run double.
– Eduardo Escobar went 1-for-4 with an infield single to shortstop.
– Darin Ruf went 1-for-2 with a ground ball single and fly out.
– Omar Narvaez went 2-for-3 with a homer.
– Vying for a spot in the bullpen, Dennis Santana worked around a leadoff walk to toss a scoreless inning, striking out one.
Highlights
What’s next
The Mets host the St. Louis Cardinals on Saturday at 6:10 pm on PIX11.