The New York Mets defeated the Miami Marlins at First Data Field in their final Spring Training game by a score of 4-3. The Mets finished with a 10-18 record in Grapefruit League play.

Pitching 

The ball went to Steven Matz in his final tune-up before the regular season. The lanky lefty pitched four scoreless innings against an albeit bad Marlins lineup.

Matz was perfect his first time through the order and racked up four strikeouts in his first three innings of work. His fastball velocity was around 94-95 MPH and it had some movement on it. After a slow start to spring, Matz really corrected himself and anchored himself into a spot in the rotation.

The lefty’s final line was: four innings pitched, two hits, one walk, and four strikeouts. He was helped out in the fourth by Yoenis Cespedes throwing out J.B. Schuck at home plate.

In Matz’s final four starts to end the spring, he went: 18.1 IP, four earned runs, five walks, and 20 K. This was after he gave up ten runs in his first 1.2 innings pitched this spring.

Corey Taylor took over in the fifth inning and promptly gave up two runs. He settled in during his second inning of work and struck out two hitters.

Drew Smith pitched the seventh and eighth inning of the game. His seventh inning was not too great as he loaded the bases with no-one out. He escaped with only allowing one run thanks in part to a catchers interference call. His eighth inning was much better as he struck out two guys and worked around a fielding error.

Kelly Secrest pitched a scoreless ninth inning to notch the save and close out the Mets final spring training game of 2018.

Offense

Brandon Nimmo led off the game with a double. He also fouled a ball off his shin later in the game but his patented grin indicated that he would be okay.

Yoenis Cespedes homered again in the fifth inning. It’s his sixth this spring and third since returning from a wrist injury. He has shown no ill-effects from it or the cortisone shot he received for it. Jay Bruce hit his third home of the spring. Bruce and Cespedes were subsequently pulled as well numerous other starters.

Amed Rosario tripled in a run during the second inning. He also singled home a run in the sixth inning. He has been very impressive this Spring and will hopefully carry that over into the regular season. A good reminder that he was a consensus top-3 prospect last July.

On Deck

The Mets will play a scrimmage against the Triple-A Las Vegas team tomorrow at 1:00 p.m. with Jacob deGrom and Matt Harvey both scheduled to pitch. The game will not be on the radio or be televised.