Photo by Ed Delany of MMO
The Mets’ bats were quiet on Monday as they snuck out just two hits against the Marlins, a lead-off double by Luis Guillorme in the first inning and a one-out single by Jake Mangum in the ninth. The Mets produced just five base runners all day as they were shut out by the Marlins.
But the story of the day was Mets starter Max Scherzer who looked really solid in his Mets Spring debut. He struck out five and gave up just three hits and one earned run in five innings pitched against the Marlins. The Mets would fall to the Marlins, however, by a score of 3-0 at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium in Jupiter, Florida.
The Mets tried to get the bats going early on Guillorme’s lead-off double in the first and then J.D. Davis was hit by a pitch to put two runners on with no outs early in the top of the first, but the Mets would leave those baserunners stranded as starter Elieser Hernandez found his way out of the inning.
The Marlins struck first in the bottom half of the first. The inning started with a lead-off bunt single by Jazz Chisholm off of Scherzer. A few pitches later Chisholm then stole second. After two consecutive groundouts, one that advanced Chisholm to third, Avisail Garcia collected the Marlins’ second hit, a single to left field that scored Chisholm to give the Marlins a 1-0 lead.
Both the Mets and Marlins went down in order in the second and third innings as the pitchers settled in for each side. The second inning is where Scherzer collected his first strikeout as a member of the Mets by striking out of Jacob Stallings. The Marlins also brought in reliever Max Meyer to replace Hernandez in the third.
The Mets, again, went down in order in the top of the fourth inning.
Scherzer continued to look strong in the bottom of the fourth inning. After two consecutive strikeouts to open the inning, he did give up a two-out double to Jesus Aguilar, but struck out Joey Wendle to end the inning and collect his fifth strikeout of the day through four innings.
The Mets and Marlins were both retired in order again in the fifth inning and the Mets went down quiet in the top of the sixth as well.
Scherzer’s day was done after five innings pitched as he was replaced by reliever Jose Butto in the sixth by the Mets.
Scherzer’s Final Line:
5.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 55 SO, 0 HR, 1.80 ERA
After starting the sixth inning with a line-out, Butto walked Lewin Diaz with one out, but retired the next two batters he faced by strikeout and force-out.
The Marlins utilized their bullpen in the seventh, bringing it Steven Okert to replace Meyer on the mound.
Meyer gave up a lead-off walk to Dominic Smith. Smith represented the Mets’ third baserunner of the day in a very quiet offensive day. Okert then settled in and retired the next three batters he faced to get out of the inning unscathed.
The Marlins came alive again in the seventh inning. They got their offensive run started off by a double by Jon Berti to center field, followed by a walk of Roman Quinn. Berti and Roman were advanced by a fielding error by Jake Mangum that also allowed Alex Jackson to reach to load the bases.
Erik Gonzalez then reached on a fielder’s choice that allowed Berti to score and advanced Quinn to third and Jackson to second.
The Mets then went to their bullpen. They brought in Eric Orze to replace Butto with one out.
Isan Diaz hit a sacrifice fly for the Marlins that scored Quinn and extended the Marlins’ lead over the Mets to 3-0. Lewin Diaz grounded out to get the Mets out of the inning.
The Marlins went to their bullpen again in the eighth. It was Sean Guenther coming in to replace Okert on the mound.
Guenther grounded out the first batter he faced before giving up a one-out walk to Khalil Lee, the Mets fourth base runner of the day. He retired the next two batters he faced.
Colin Holderman came in to replace Orze on the mound for the Mets in the eighth. He gave up a one-out single to Bryan De La Cruz, but struck out three in a strong inning of work.
Anthony Bender came in to relieve Sean Guenther in the top of the ninth for the Marlins. He struck out Brett Baty to open the inning. The Mets then finally collected their second hit (fifth base runner) of the day, one a one-out single by Jake Mangum to right field.
Mangum was left stranded though as Bender struck out pinch-hitters Travis Blankenhorn and Carlos Cortes to get out of the inning as the Marlins defeated the Mets 3-0 in Jupiter.
Hernandez (1-0) was credited with the win. Scherzer (0-1) took the loss, and Bender (1) was credited with the save.
The Mets are back home Tuesday night under the lights. They will face the Houston Astros at Clover Park in Port St. Lucie. First pitch is set for 6:10PM. It will be Jake Odorizzi on the mound for Houston against Jacob deGrom for the Mets.
