Credit: Mary Holt-USA TODAY Sports

The Mets took a weakened depth team to the Rodger Dean Chevrolet Stadium Wednesday afternoon and were defeated by the Cardinals 14-9.

Pitching

Non-roster invitee Jerad Eickhoff got the start today for the Mets. He allowed four runs in his spring debut including, a Nolan Arenado RBI single in the 1st inning and a John Nogowski three-run home run, leaving his spring ERA at a bloated 18.00. It wasn’t all bad for Eickhoff, who struck out two Cardinals on nasty curveballs, arguably the best pitch of his repertoire.

Jacob Barnes, who was claimed by the Mets off waivers from the Angels, struggled in his first appearance of the spring, allowing three runs on three hits. Barnes also walked two batters and hit one before the inning was ended after he reached 35 pitches. A rocky start for the waiver claim trying to break the bullpen in 2021.

It would take just ten pitches for Franklyn Kilome to set the Cardinals down 1-2-3 in his first appearance this spring. Kilome allowed two soft lineouts to left field and a sharp groundball to the first baseman Jose Martinez, Kilome touched 95 mph with his sinker.

Mets No. 23 prospect (according to MLB.com) Oscar De La Cruz threw just 10 pitches to retire the Cardinals in order, including a strikeout of Cardinals highly-touted rookie Dylan Carlson. 

Southpaw Tom Windle allowed three runs (one earned) after striking out the first two batters of his inning of work. Stephen Nogosek, who pitched in seven games for the Mets back in 2019, needed just 13 pitches in his perfect inning of work.

Finally, Marcel Renteria was the last Met to take the mound on Wednesday and he would allow a pair of two-run home runs in the bottom of the eighth inning, although he did struck out three batters in the inning. 

Offense

The Mets bats were hot early, scoring five runs across the first few frames. Newly signed Kevin Pillar continued his hot start to spring training, crushing a long triple off Kwang Hyun Kim. He was driven in by a J.D. Davis single one batter later.

That wouldn’t be the only run-scoring action for the Mets in the first inning. Luis Guillorme collected his first hit and RBI of spring, driving in Davis with a single into right field. Tomas Nido would later drive in Jose Martinez with a hard-hit single into left field.

Two Mets runs would score in the 2nd inning on a dropped fly ball by Cardinals outfielder Austin Dean.

The Mets threatened once again in the fourth inning. Pillar collected his second hit of the day, a double down the third base line. He proceeded to tag up and advance to third on a Jonathan Villar flyout, however, the Mets wouldn’t be able to bring him in as Davis grounded out to end the inning.

In the top of the fifth inning, the Mets would have the bases loaded with no one out following a Jose Martinez walk, Guillorme single and a Nido walk. Cardinals RHP Connor Jones then walked Mallex Smith, scoring Martinez. The Mets ended up stranded the bases loaded though, finishing the inning trailing by a run with a 7-6 score. 

In the top of the ninth inning, the Mets scored three, Bruce Maxwell hit a leadoff double, and was later driven in by fellow catcher Patrick Mazeika, who doubled down the first baseline. Top prospect Brett Baty smashed a two-run double into left center, scoring two more runs. Fellow top prospect Pete Crow-Armstrong grounded out to end the rally, with the Mets falling short by five runs.  

On Deck

The Mets will head back to Clover park tomorrow to face the Washington Nationals. David Peterson will make his first start for the Mets while Kyle Finnegan starts for the Nationals. This game is broadcasted on ESPN. First pitch 1:10 pm EST.