After a strong spring debut, Mets right-handed pitcher Kodai Senga struggled as the team tied the St. Louis Cardinals 3-3 on Friday night at Clover Park.
He lasted 3 1/3 innings, allowing seven hits and two earned runs while recording one strikeout and one walk.
Photo by Ed Delany of Metsmerized
The Mets struck first in the bottom of the first inning with no outs when Juan Soto launched his fourth home run of the spring, a solo shot to right-center field that gave the team a 1-0 lead.
Senga ran into trouble in the third. With no outs, he allowed a deep double to left field by second baseman Michael Helman. On the next pitch, the 32-year-old threw a wild pitch on a ghost fork, allowing Helman to advance to third. Catcher Yohel Pozo followed with a two-run homer for his first hit of the spring, giving the Cardinals a 2-1 lead, before skipper Carlos Mendoza went to the bullpen.
Carlos Guzman then came out of the bullpen for the Mets to finish off the third inning, throwing two-thirds of an inning and not allowing a hit while striking out one batter.
Senga returned for the fourth inning, allowing two hits with no walks or strikeouts. Reed Garrett followed with a hitless inning, striking out one. Anthony Gose then took the mound, allowing one earned run on two hits with one walk in his one inning of work.
The Mets’ offense came to life in the sixth inning when Francisco Lindor hustled out a double on a ground ball to center field, which deflected off Helman’s glove. Soto followed with a ground ball single to right field, driving in Lindor to cut the deficit to 3-2.
In the eighth inning, the Mets tied the game when José Azocar singled on a ground ball to right field, then stole second and advanced to third on an overthrow. After Donavan Walton walked and Luisangel Acuña struck out, Azocar stole home on a passed ball, knotting the game up.
Luis Torrens caught seven frames for the Mets while catching outfielder Victor Scott II stealing. Torrens has a chance to be the Mets’ Opening Day starter after Francisco Alvarez suffered a fractured left hand.
Brett Baty, looking to earn the Mets’ Opening Day job at second base while Jeff McNeil deals with an oblique injury, played seven innings at the position. He strengthened his case in the fourth inning, lining a double down the left field line.
Player of the Game
After driving in both of the Mets’ runs on a solo shot and an RBI single in addition to making a sliding catch in right field, Soto continues to impress this spring. He’s up to four home runs and eight RBIs with a .417 batting average.
On Deck
The Mets welcome the division rival Washington Nationals back to Clover Park on Saturday evening. Opening Day starter Clay Holmes (1-0, 0.00) gets the nod for the Mets, while lefty Mitchell Parker (0-0, 4.91) will take the mound for the Nationals. First pitch is scheduled for 6:05 p.m.
