Photo: USA Today
The New York Mets (3-3) were defeated by the Washington Nationals (3-3) today by a score of 9-5. The New York Mets defense has looked shaky over the last couple of games, particularly as Jeff McNeil and J.D. Davis have both had their struggles over at third base.
Pitching:
Jordan Yamamoto was very solid in his start vs the Nationals this afternoon. He struck out two batters and allowed two unearned runs across three innings of work.
Dellin Betances followed and tried to have a bounce back game based on his struggles in his last bullpen appearance. This time, he allowed just an unearned run in his one inning of work.
Robert Gsellman pitched worked around some traffic in his one inning out of the bullpen today, giving up no earned runs despite allowing a few hits.
Matthew Allan one of the New York Mets top 10 prospects got a chance to show off his repertoire on the mound and impressed with his velocity alone, as he was touching 97 mph with ease at just 19 years old. Allan did allow four hits and three runs, but only one of them was earned as an error by Jake Hager with two outs prolonged the inning.
The hard-throwing lefty from Miami Stephen Tarpley got a chance to throw in the seventh inning, he allowed one earned run on three hits.
Franklyn Kilome pitched the eighth inning and really struggled with his control, hitting the leadoff batter, before walking the next batter on just four pitches. He would eventually settle down, but not before giving up a pair of singles and two earned runs.
Offense:
Francisco Lindor got the start at shortstop after his day off yesterday, he went 2-for-3, officially getting his first two spring hits as a New York Met.
In the top of the second inning, catching prospect Patrick Mazeika drove in the first run of the game on a sac fly to cut the Mets deficit down to 2-1, with J.D. Davis trotting on home to score. Then in the sixth inning, Mazeika drove another run in by grounding into a force-out, once again cutting the Mets deficit to one at 3-2.
In top of the eighth inning, Pete Crow-Armstrong reached on an error to start the inning off, then next batter Mark Vientos doubled into right field to set up runners at second and third. The third batter of the eighth, former first round draft pick Jake Hager blasted a three-run homer for his second home run of this spring.
On Deck:
Tomorrow the New York Mets will play the St. Louis Cardinals at 1:10 pm. The newly acquired Taijuan Walker will be getting the start for the Metropolitans. Walker will likely be a back-end starter in the rotation sliding into that fourth spot behind Jacob deGrom, Marcus Stroman and Carlos Carrasco.
The 28-year-old is coming off a strong campaign in 2020, where he pitched to a 2.70 ERA in the shortened season. Walker missed a majority of the 2018 and 2019 seasons due to having Tommy John surgery. He recently signed a two-year deal with a third-year option with the New York Mets, solidifying this rotation going forward.
Carlos Martinez will be the starter on the other side for the Cardinals. He’s looking to return to the rotation in St. Louis after pitching out of the bullpen the last couple of seasons. The game will be televised on SNY.
