The eighth inning was madness.
Francisco Álvarez delivered a two-run, bases-loaded single to give the Mets the lead and Zack Short smacked a grand slam as the Mets used a seven-run eighth to come from behind in a 10-5 victory over the Detroit Tigers in Lakeland, Fla., on Thursday.
Brett Baty, looking to rebound after a disappointing 2023, added his third home run, a 406-foot, two-run blast to center. Harrison Bader also homered for New York (14-10).
But not everyone had a great day for New York. The Tigers (16-9) roughed up prospect Dominic Hamel for four solo home runs. Making his first start, the 25-year-old gave up homers to the leadoff hitter in the first, second and third innings.
Parker Meadows homered off Hamel to start the first, Colt Keith did it in the second and Riley Greene in the third. Kerry Carpenter added the other Tiger home run later in the third inning. In all, Hamel surrendered six hits and a walk in three innings of work. He struck out two.
Michael Tonkin, hoping to claim one of the last remaining bullpen spots, threw 2 1/3 innings of scoreless relief with one strikeout. Trey McLoughlin, Daniel Juarez and Austin Adams (1-1) combined for 1 2/3 scoreless innings.
Pete Alonso and Mark Vientos started the seven-run rally with back-to-back singles. After a Starling Marte walk, Álvarez came through with his base hit that gave him a team-leading nine RBIs. Baty walked to reload the bases. Tyrone Taylor walked to drive in a run and Short followed with the slam, his first homer of the spring.
Photo Credit: Mike Watters-USA TODAY Sports
Notes
Edwin Díaz pitched a scoreless inning in a minor league game, notable because it was the second game of back-to-back, another first for him since his injury.
Hamel had a 3.85 ERA and 1.26 WHIP with 160 strikeouts and 49 walks in 124 innings at Double-A Binghamton last season.
Manager Carlos Mendoza said before the game that Kodai Senga‘s MRI was clean, and he is cleared to resume activity and expected to throw within a week.
Marte was 0-for-3 and is hitting .118.
Detroit starter Matt Manning retired the first eight men he faced before Bader’s homer.
Jeff McNeil was 0-for-2 with two walks and is still looking for his first hit.
Shintaro Fujinami gave up one earned run in one inning. Tyler Jay pitched a scoreless ninth.
The Mets have five more spring training games. Opening Day is next Thursday vs. Milwaukee at Citi Field.
Player of the Game
Tonkin was one of four relievers who held the Tigers in check, giving the Mets a chance to mount a comeback. The 34-year-old had a 4.28 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 4.43 FIP for Atlanta last year in 80 innings. He pitched for Minnesota from 2013-2017, then went six years between MLB appearances, playing in Japan, Mexico and for the Long Island Ducks.
On Deck
The Mets (starting pitcher TBD) will face Luis Gil and the Yankees at George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa at 1:05 p.m. ET. It will be broadcast on YES.
