New York Mets right-hander Noah Syndergaard had an up-and-down outing on Tuesday at Clover Park in Port St. Lucie but came away from his second Grapefruit League start feeling good, all things considered.

Over three innings pitched, the hulking righty allowed three runs (two earned) on two hits with five strikeouts and no walks (42 pitches). All in all, that’s a good day at the office. Were there bumps in the road? Sure. But that’s what this time of year is for, right?

Syndergaard retired Marlins prospect (no. 66, per MLB Pipeline) Jazz Chisholm on a sharp groundball to Pete Alonso and froze Jon Berti on a two-strike, top-zone, 98 MPH four-seamer to start his day, then gave up a wind-aided, opposite-field solo home run to Garrett Cooper before striking out Matt Kemp, flailing at an 87 MPH slider, to end the frame.

The 27-year-old induced a first-pitch, groundball out via Isan Diaz to start the second, but Marlins left fielder Harold Ramirez was hit on the arm with a 96 MPH fastball, Lewis Brinson reached on a sharp groundball to Jeff McNeil at third base (Cano dropped McNeil’s double-play throw at second; Diaz was running on the pitch), and Chad Wallach — son of former major leaguer Tim Wallach — drove in Ramirez with a base hit to center field.

Brinson scored on Magneuris Sierra‘s groundball to Alonso (safe at first, throwing error via Amed Rosario; stole second), making it a 3-1 game for Miami, but Syndergaard struck out Chisholm swinging at a rising 97 MPH heater to escape the jam.

Marlins runners were testing Syndergaard on Tuesday, inducing a number of looks-over and pickoff throws. Runners on base have been a problem for the six-year MLB veteran (41 stolen bases allowed last season led the majors; Yu Darvish and Jacob deGrom tied for second-most with 24).

Syndergaard set down the Fish in order in the third, picking up two more punchouts via Berti — swinging at an 80 MPH curveball — and Kemp, who went down looking at a 97 MPH fastball right down the pipe.

After the game, Syndergaard acknowledged to reporters that being quick to the plate and mindful of baserunners has been an area of focus this spring (video via Anthony DiComo, MLB).

“It’s been a huge focus for me. Every time in between starts, whenever I get on the mound, I’m working on just being quicker to home plate without really sacrificing stuff to a hitter,” he said. “I’d like to think I’m quite a bit further along [in this area] probably than I’ve ever been. It took a lot of swallowing my pride and knowing there’s something I need to really work on and I put a huge emphasis on doing so.”

As for his progress this spring, Syndergaard seemed pleased with where he stands with just over three weeks until Opening Day.

“Felt pretty good. Took a lot of positives out of [Tuesday’s outing],” Syndergaard told the team’s media corps. “Weak contact, times to home plate were good, just felt more comfortable on the mound.”

With seven strikeouts and no walks over five Grapefruit League innings this spring (3.60 ERA; two appearances), it appears Syndergaard is right on track.