The New York Mets and Atlanta Braves played ten-innings on Saturday afternoon but neither team would pull out a win as the two division rivals played to a 3-3 tie at Champion Stadium in Kissimmee, FL. For the Mets it was their 4th tie of the Grapefruit League season and they’ve now gone nine games since their last win playing fake games.
Jacob deGrom started for the Mets and enjoyed a bit of an uptick in velocity. After averaging about 91-93 mph in his first three spring starts, he was ranging 92-94 mph this afternoon. He had a solid start, holding the Braves to two runs on three hits and a walk in 6 2/3 innings. DeGrom struck out five batters and now has a 1.62 ERA thru 4 starts.
Addison Reed came in and got the last out of the 7th inning, and then Hansel Robles came on for the 8th and got into some trouble after a leadoff single and an error by Travis Taijeron in right field.
Robles then compounded issues with an errant pick-off throw that allowed the tie-breaking run to go to third. The Braves would plate him on a sac fly by Jace Peterson to take a 3-2 lead at the time.
The Mets got on the board in the 5th when Marc Krauss scored on a bases loaded ground ball to first by Jacob deGrom. Center fielder Juan Lagares singled another run home as Taijeron scored from third base.
In the ninth inning, former Met Carlos walked three to load the bases and the Mets scored the tying run on a fielders choice grounder by Johnny Monell to make the score 3-3.
Mets reliever Zack Thornton pitched a perfect 1-2-3 inning in the bottom half of the ninth to send the game into extra innings. The game would end in a tie after a scoreless tenth inning by Erik Goeddel.
Eric Campbell, who is battling for the final bench spot went 0-for-4 in the game, while his competition Matt Reynolds went 2-for-4 with a double.
On Sunday, the Mets head back home to Tradition Field and host the Washington Nationals. LHP Steven Matz gets the start for the Amazins and he’ll oppose RHP Yusmeiro Petit for the Nats in a 1:05 PM matchup.
