The New York Mets expect big things from Francisco Álvarez in 2024, and he shined with both his power bat and his arm behind the plate on Thursday against the Washington Nationals. Not only did he hit a go-ahead two-run home run in the fifth in New York’s 3-1 win in Port St. Lucie, but he also threw out three baserunners. 

Cole Irvin had held the Mets offense scoreless through the first four innings. Then, in the fifth, the team finally got on the board against Richard Bleier. Brett Baty was able to pick up a bunt single, and he came around to score when Álvarez crushed a 408-foot home run to left for his first of the spring. 

José Quintana made his second start of the spring and showed much improvement from his last start against the Astros. The Nationals did score a run against him in the top of the second, but that run was unearned because Joey Wendle (making his spring debut) was called for an interference error on a pickoff attempt. The Nats would take advantage of that on an RBI single by Jacob Young. 

Quintana did not surrender an extra-base hit in the outing. The left-hander allowed four hits, walked a batter, hit a batter, and struck out six on 49 pitches (35 strikes). Last year, he only struck out six or more batters in an outing during the regular season twice in 13 outings. 

Most of what would be the Opening Day lineup three weeks from now was outside of Jeff McNeil. Out of all the regulars, Brandon Nimmo was the most successful, recording a pair of singles against Irvin. 

Of course, the Mets got some good defense to help their starter, thanks to Álvarez. He threw out Lane Thomas stealing in the first. Then, in the fourth, Álvarez got Adam Ottavino out of trouble by throwing out both Ildemaro Vargas and Carter Kieboom. 

After Ottavino, Jake Diekman allowed one hit in a scoreless fifth and Jorge López threw a 1-2-3 sixth inning. 

New York would tack on another run in the sixth against a former Met in Robert Gsellman. José Iglesias led off the inning with a triple and he would come around to score two batters later on an RBI groundout from Francisco Lindor. 

Thursday marked the Mets debut for one of their newest relievers, Shintaro Fujinami. Fujinami threw only 10 pitches (6 strikes), but he got two groundball outs as part of a 1-2-3 seventh. 

Once Fujinami finished his inning, Josh Walker threw a 1-2-3 eighth with a pair of strikeouts and Grant Hartwig worked around a one-out single to secure the win by getting the final out via a strikeout. In total, Mets relievers allowed only three hits over the final six innings.

Photo by Ed Delany of Metsmerized

Player Of The Game

Álvarez ended up being the center of attention with the power he showed on the home run. It was equally as impressive when you consider the Mets lineup was hitting a few balls to the warning track in the early innings. His arm behind the plate should be equally as impressive in keeping the rotation from allowing big innings. 

On Deck

The Mets will travel to Jupiter, Florida, to take on the Miami Marlins on Friday night at 6:40 p.m. ET. Luis Severino will start for the Mets in his second spring start against Eury Pérez for Miami.