The New York Mets (1-5-1) played a rare evening Spring Training game on Thursday, taking on the undefeated Miami Marlins (6-0) under the lights at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium, falling by a score of 3-1. Box Score
A couple of off-field issues were of note before the game: Outfielder Brandon Nimmo, who has been undergoing testing for a cardiac issue, has been cleared to resume baseball activities, per Brodie Van Wagenen. Veteran Matt Adams was a late scratch as he, too, had to get some additional cardiac screenings (Pete Alonso moved from DH to 1B, and Ryan Cordell jumped in to DH).
Pitching
Rick Porcello worked two solid innings, allowing two hits and no walks while striking out a pair across two innings. Both hits came with two outs in the second, but Porcello was able to escape without allowing a run. His breaking pitches were working well, and the Mets have to be happy with a healthy, effective second start here in the spring.
Brad Brach pitched the third for the Mets, and was effective– he needed just fifteen pitches to retire the side in order, including a strikeout of Miguel Rojas.
Robert Gsellman looked great in a 1-2-3 fourth inning, one that included a Corey Dickerson strikeout. Gsellman threw just 11 pitches.
Corey Oswalt didn’t fare quite as well as the pitchers before him. After allowing a leadoff single to Matt Joyce, Jon Berti bunted Joyce over to second, before catcher Ryan Lavarnway roped an RBI double. Oswalt was able to strand Lavarnway, but the damage was done. Oswalt worked one additional inning, giving up a double but no runs.
The fifth pitcher of the night for the Mets was Stephen Nogosek, who was greeted promptly by the ever-intriguing Lewis Brinson (acquired in the Christian Yelich trade), who crushed a fastball for a no-doubt home run to lead off the seventh.
Nick Rumbelow had some trouble in the eighth inning, allowing a walk, a double, and then a single to allow a run to score. Meanwhile, a strong throw from Braxton Lee nabbed a baserunner, helping to limit the damage. With two outs, Rumbelow left due to some sort of injury and was replaced by Francisco Rios, who struck out the only batter he faced.
Offense
The bats didn’t muster much of anything in this game, scoring just one run on 6 scattered hits off of a group of Marlins pitchers including starter Robert Dugger and Jordan Yamamoto.
Pete Alonso recorded his first hit of the spring, a well-struck, two-out double in the first inning off of Marlins starter Robert Dugger.
Eduardo Nunez ripped a double in the third inning, and Michael Conforto followed up with a screaming single into right. Alonso, though, struck out looking to end the threat, and the inning.
The Mets’ half of the fourth featured former Astro Jake Marisnick being plunked by Brad Boxberger (on a 2-strike breaking ball), but Marisnick was caught stealing.
Mets top prospect Andres Gimenez checked into the game in the sixth and quickly made an impact, shattering a double into center field in his first at-bat in the seventh. Tomas Nido, Jarrett Parker, and Max Moroff struck out in order, though, and Gimenez was stranded.
The Mets finally got on the board in the eighth inning, when Edgardo Fermin singled up the middle to drive in Will Toffey, who previously reached and advanced to second on a throwing error. Fermin would be the last Met to reach base.
On Deck
The Mets will look to right the ship at 1:10 ET on Friday, back at home vs the Cardinals. It will be Marcus Stroman taking the mound for the second time this Spring, facing off against veteran Adam Wainwright. The game will be on SNY.
