The Mets (1-0) beat the Braves (0-1) by a score of 8-2 in Wednesday’s Grapefruit League opener at Champion Field.
Dillon Gee (he’s still here) got the start for the Mets and pitched two innings. Profar Gee allowed 2 runs on 2 hits and 2 walks in the first inning, before settling down to finish his outing with a 1-2-3 frame in the second.
Gee turned the ball over to a slew of relievers, who pitched very well. Jon Velasquez pitched 2 scoreless innings, allowing 2 hits and a walk, striking out one. Jack Leathersich (an actual prospect) walked the first 2 hitters he faced but bounced back to retire the next 3 Braves. Zach Thornton threw a flawless inning, and Dario Alvarez (who saw a bit of time in the Majors last year) worked around a hit and a walk to avoid any damage. After Akeel Morris pitched a perfect 8th, Erik Goeddel (who appeared in a couple MLB games last year) finished things up in the 9th, inducing a double-play and fanning the game’s final hitter.
The Mets’ bats made some noise in this one with 14 hits, a pleasing performance following an intrasquad game earlier this week that ended in a scoreless tie.
Kirk Nieuwenhuis drove in a run with an RBI single in the opening frame and Eric Campbell drove in a pair with a double in the 5th. The Mets scored 5 runs in the 6th on an RBI singles from prospects Matt Reynolds and Kevin Plawecki, and a 3-run blast from Johnny Monell.
A quick recap of how the guys you should probably care about did:
Travis d’Arnaud: 0-for-3
Lagares: 1-for-2 with a walk and a run scored
Kirk: 4-for-4, Run, RBI
Wilmer Flores: 1-for-2, 1 error, left game in 5th after HBP to wrist
Reynolds: 2-for-3, 2 runs, 1 RBI
Campbell: 1-for-1, walk, double, 2 RBI
Cesar Puello: 0-for-2, walk, Run
Brandon Nimmo: 0-for-2, walk
Matt den Dekker: 1-for-3
Plawecki: 1-for-4, RBI
Dilson Herrera: 0-for-2
Gavin Cecchini: 0-for-1
The game doesn’t count, but it’s nice to see our guys back on the field (and getting a win). Hopefully we get a strong, healthy spring to set the tone for the season.
Up Next: The Mets will play the Nationals on Thursday at 5:05 PM at Space Coast Stadium. Bartolo Colon will face Max Scherzer.
