Mets and Cardinals Tie 3-3 In Final Spring Tune Up

The Mets (11-11-2) and the St. Louis Cardinals (8-10) tied 3-3 Monday afternoon at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium in New York’s final spring game.

Right-hander Taijuan Walker scattered two runs on three hits and struck out two over five innings, while Pete Alonso drove home two of the three Mets’ runs.

On the Mound

Walker, who the Mets signed this winter, put together another good performance for his new squad, and ends spring training with a 3.27 ERA.

After being staked early to a 2-0 lead thanks to a double from Alonso, Walker gave one back quick, as he allowed a home run to new Cardinals’ third baseman Nolan Arenado.

Walker set down the side in order in the second, but St. Louis tied the game up at two apiece in the third on a base knock from Matt Carpenter.

The Mets’ starter settled down after this, however, as he induced a double play to end the frame and had two clean innings in the fourth and fifth to end his day.

Miguel Castro came on for the sixth and continued his excellent spring with a 1,2,3 frame, lowering his spring ERA to 1.23.

Robert Gsellman, who won the final bullpen spot as of yesterday, pitched a scoreless seventh and southpaw Jerry Blevins who lost out on the job but will head to the alternate site in Brooklyn, held St. Louis at bay in the eighth.

Going into the ninth with a one-run lead, Trevor Hildenberger struck out two, but allowed the Cardinals to tie the game on a home run from Edmundo Sosa.

At the Plate

The Mets tallied six hits on the afternoon, including half of them in the first.

Brandon Nimmo and Francisco Lindor singled and doubled respectively to set the table for Pete Alonso, who promptly knocked them both in with a double.

New York was held scoreless until the eighth inning, when outfielder Mallex Smith contributed a double of his own to score Luis Guillorme.

Lindor, who finished spring with an 11-game on-base streak, hit a robust .370 this month and had a whopping 1.063 OPS.

One of the Mets’ top prospects, Pete Crow-Armstrong also chipped in a hit on the afternoon.

On deck

Next stop: Opening Day!

The Mets will head to Washington on Thursday to face off against the Nationals for the first matchup of the new campaign. It will be a duel of the aces, as Jacob deGrom will take on Max Scherzer.

First pitch is scheduled for 7:09 p.m.