The New York Mets (11-16) defeated the Atlanta Braves (13-16) by a score of 12-2 Saturday afternoon (Box Score). Jacob deGrom earned the win and Kyle Dowdy earned the four-inning save as the Mets offense exploded for 15 hits.

Pitching

Jacob deGrom was dominant in his final tune-up before Opening Day, pitching three perfect innings, striking out five Braves and tossing 40 pitches. He’ll finish Spring Training with an ERA of 3.00, striking out 20 batters and walking two in 15 innings.

Seth Lugo tossed a scoreless fourth inning, allowing one hit. Robert Gsellman then came in for the fifth inning, but was greeted by Ronald Acuna who socked a solo home run. It was an otherwise uneventful inning, with Gsellman allowing only a walk.

Kyle Dowdy showed up for the bottom of the sixth inning in line to face the Braves replacement players. Though he allowed a leadoff walk to Austin Riley, he retired the next three batters in order, striking out one.

Dowdy stayed in for the rest of the game, pitching four innings total and allowing one earned run on three hits (one home run), one walk, and four strikeouts. He earned the save despite the Mets’ huge lead, lowering his Spring ERA to 5.56.

Hitting

The Mets got things going early Saturday as after Jeff McNeil flew out to start the game, Pete Alonso knocked a single and Robison Cano reached on a fielders’ choice to put runners on first and second with one out. Keon Broxton then doubled, and while Alonso scored easily, Cano was thrown out at the plate thanks to a great relay from left fielder Rafael Ortega to shortstop Dansby Swanson to catcher Tyler Flowers.

The Amazin’s were quiet until the fifth inning against Touki Toussaint when 17-year-old Ronny Mauricio led off with a single up the middle. Amidst a McNeil strikeout, he then stole second, setting the table for Pete Alonso who crushed an RBI double. Robinson Cano struck out but then Keon Broxton was hit by a pitch, putting runners on first and second with two outs.

Amed Rosario and Tomas Nido then knocked back-to-back RBI singles, giving the Mets runners on first and third and a 5-0 lead.  Toussaint then unleashed a wild pitch, allowing Rosario to score from third and Tomas Nido to advance to second base.

After a mound visit, Jason Krizan slapped yet another single, keeping the pressure on with runners on first and third. Will Toffey, who already had a double in the game, drew a walk to load the bases.

Toussaint was relieved of duty and replaced by Jose Rafael De Paula who almost immediately surrendered a two-RBI single to Ronny Mauricio. Jeff McNeil then lined out sharply to the shortstop to finally end the inning with the Mets now up 8-0 over the Braves.

The Mets continued their onslaught in the sixth inning, as hits from Alonso, Broxton, Rosario, Nido, Krizan, and a sacrifice fly from Toffey led to four more runs, giving the Mets a 12-1 lead.

The only Mets starters who did not get a hit today were McNeil and Cano who each went 0-for-5.

On Deck

The Mets will face off against another division rival, the Nationals, Sunday at First Data Field. First pitch is scheduled for 12:10 PM. The Mets’ starter is TBD, but the Nationals will feature Joe Ross who is 1-0 with a 2.53 ERA this Spring.