Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports

The New York Mets officially began their 2023 Grapefruit League campaign on Saturday with a split squad assignment. First up was the Houston Astros, where a travelling and young roster struggled to come up with offense in a 4-2 loss at The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches.

It proved to be a losing start for the Mets, but it was a useful opportunity to get the first real look of spring at players hoping to make the Opening Day roster like Brett Baty and Mark Vientos.

It was the Mets who struck first. Baty, after going 2-for-2 with a single and a double in an intra-squad game on Friday, launched a two-run homer in the top of the first inning to score Tim Locastro. It was an impressive blast from Baty who has come out swinging early on in spring training.

Denyi Reyes started the game on the mound for the Mets and he flew through a 1-2-3 inning in the bottom of the first, with offense generally hard to come by for both teams in the opening innings. Astros pitcher Brandon Bielak rebounded from a tough start by retiring the side in order in the top of the second, before Reyes did the same to end his day. Reyes finished his day without allowing a hit while also collecting two strikeouts.

Bielak was replaced by Ronel Blanco for the top of the third and Blanco got off to a flyer by racking up three consecutive strikeouts. Adam Ottavino came into the game for the Mets and was forced to work out of a jam early. After David Hensley reached base on a fielding error by Baty, Ottavino struck out Ross Adolph but then gave up a single to Marty Costes, who then stole second. However, Ottavino was able to make a big play himself to get Hensley out at home and a groundout ended the inning without any damage done.

Austin Davis was on the mound for Houston in the fourth and he immediately walked Baty, before hitting Omar Narváez and DJ Stewart with pitches in back-to-back at-bats. The Mets were unable to take advantage, however, with Jonathan Araúz grounding into a double play.

There was no more scoring until the bottom of the sixth when Justin Dirden blasted a solo home run for Houston off of Justin Courtney, before Zach Muckenhirn gave up a double to Grae Kessinger in the seventh, which allowed Costes to score to make it a tied game. A fielding error then allowed Kessinger to score to make it a 3-2 game for the Astros. And it only continued to spiral out of control for the Mets in the seventh as a Dirden line drive single scored Yainer Díaz

That proved to be it as the Mets were unable to put up any more offense in order to get back into the game. Results are not what matter in spring training, though, and a more experienced Mets team will face Miami later on Saturday.

Player Of The Game

Brett Baty has played in two games so far in spring training and he’s emerged as the best player in both of them. After going 2-for-2 in an intra-squad game on Friday, Baty was all over the action in the Mets’ Grapefruit League opener against the Astros. He led off with a first inning homer and followed that up with another 2-for-2 outing to go along with a walk and 2 RBI. He got on base all three times in his first three plate appearances. That’s what you call making an impact. Baty needed a big spring and he’s certainly delivered early on.

On Deck

The Mets are right back to it as they take on the Miami Marlins in their second game of the day, this time at Clover Park in Port St. Lucie. The likes of Francisco Lindor, Pete Alonso, Jeff McNeil, Tommy Pham and Mark Canha will get their first action of spring training, with José Butto on the mound. First pitch is scheduled for 6:10 p.m.