Photo by Ed Delany, MMO

It was a sloppy Saturday under the lights at FITTEAM Ballpark of the Palm Beaches as the Mets fell to the Nationals 4-3, as they committed three errors in this one.

The Mets saw strong pitching performances from Jordan Yamamoto, Edwin Diaz, Drew Smith, and Miguel Castro. Mets pitching combined for seven strikeouts Saturday night. 

Pitching

Yamamoto made his third start of the spring on Saturday. He struggled with command early in the first, allowing a Victor Robles single to begin the inning, followed by Josh Bell knocking Robles in for the Nationals’ first run of the game. Yamamoto rebounded and limited the Nationals to just the one run, however.

The right-hander then settled in during the second inning, forcing the Nationals to go down 1-2-3, including a strikeout of Hernan Perez. Yamamoto continued to have a strong third inning. After allowing an RBI in the first, Yamamoto retired seven Nationals in a row. To end the third inning, it was Yamamoto winning an 11-pitch duel with Juan Soto. After retiring Trea Turner to start the fourth inning, Mets’ manager Luis Rojas went to his bullpen for the first time this game.

Yamamoto would finish his night with a strong outing, pitching 3.1 innings, and allowing just one run, two hits, struck out two and now has a spring ERA of 1.08.

Daniel Zamora followed Yamamoto on the mound for the Mets. He retired Kyle Schwarber by a fly out and forced Starlin Castro to ground out to end the fourth inning.

It was then right-handed pitcher Edwin Diaz to take the mound in the fifth. He struck out two in a strong 1-2-3 fifth inning. Diaz has a 0.00 ERA so far this spring across three outing.

Jeurys Familia took the mound for the Mets in the sixth. He struggled to start the inning, giving up a double to Victor Robles and walking Juan Soto to get himself into trouble quickly. Familia was then able to force Trea Turner into a double play to quickly get two outs in hopes of keeping the Nationals from scoring, but a fielding error by Villar allowed Josh Bell to reach on a fielding error that in turn allowed Victor Robles to score to tie the game at two a-piece.

Familia limited the damage, striking out Schwarber to end the sixth inning.

Miguel Castro pitched the seventh for the Mets, retiring the Mets in order in a clean seventh inning.

Drew Smith came in to replace Castro in the eighth for the Mets. After Yasmany Tomas grounded out, he struck out Blake Swihart for the second out. He then allowed a triple to Cody Wilson, followed by a strikeout of Jordy Mercer to get out of trouble.

Mets’ 2018 fifth round pick, right-handed pitcher Ryley Gilliam would come in and take the mound for the Mets in the ninth. Gilliam failed to find command early, allowing a single to Yadiel Hernandez, followed by a wild pitch that allowed Hernandez to advance to second. Jackson Cluff would then single on a bunt that allowed Hernandez to advance to third. Gilliam forced Luis Garcia to ground out, however Hernandez would score and the Nationals tied the game at three.

The Mets’ error-woes continued in the ninth, with Andrew Stevenson reaching on a fielding error by third baseman Mark Vientos that advanced Garcia to second. Gilliam would then throw his second wild pitch of the inning to advance the runners up 90 feet and put himself in jeopardy of blowing a save opportunity.

Gilliam then allowed a walk-off single to Yasmany Tomas to score Luis Garcia, handing the Mets a 4-3 loss.

Offense

After a strong start in the first inning, the Mets’ offense was predominantly quiet in Saturday night’s matchup against the Nationals.

The offense was kick-started in the first when Michael Conforto was hit by a pitch. J.D. Davis then singled on a fly ball to right to advance Conforto to second. A fielding error by Soto allowed Conforto to advance to third. McCann then reached on a throwing error, scoring Michael Conforto and J.D. Davis.

The Mets tried to get something going in the fourth, but left bases loaded to keep the game at 2-1.

After the Nationals tied the game in the sixth, the Mets woke up in the seventh inning and got off to a strong start. Almora doubled to open the seventh for the Mets. A passed by catcher Blake Swihart advanced Almora to third. A wild pitch later in the inning by Erick Fedde allowed Almora to score, giving the Mets a 3-2 lead.

The Mets and Nationals combined for five errors in this one (three for the Mets, two for the Nationals). But it would be the Nationals coming away with the win. The Mets are now 5-5 on the spring.

On Deck:

The Mets will return to Clover Park Sunday to take on the St. Louis Cardinals. First pitch is scheduled for 1:10 p.m. and it will be David Peterson getting the start for the Mets in the matinee.