Ronny Mauricio Collects Two RBIs In Mets 5-5 Tie

Carlos Carrasco took the mound in West Palm Beach, looking to improve after he had trouble with the pitch clock in his first spring outing.

The Mets’ veteran had a better second start on Tuesday night, facing an Astros lineup that was missing starters that left for their respective WBC teams. Carrasco allowed a first-inning double to Alex Bregman but retired Jose Abreu and Zach Daniels to escape the inning scoreless.

While Carrasco escaped trouble in the first, the long ball haunted him for a consecutive spring start. After Kenedy Corona grounded into a double play, Grae Kessinger clubbed a solo home run in the bottom of the second inning to give the Astros a 1-0 lead.

The Mets, however, wasted no time, adding a run of their own in the top of the third. Tim Locastro and Tommy Pham both singled, setting up a first and third situation for Mark Canha. The Mets’ left-fielder came through, recording an opposite-field single to tie the game at 1-1-1.

Carrasco settled down in the bottom of the third, striking out two while working around Bregman’s second double of the game. That concluded Carrasco’s night, who struck out two and allowed one earned run over three innings of work. After the game, Carrasco spoke with SNY, stating that he felt more comfortable with the pitch clock in his second start.

Tylor Megill took over for Carrasco at the top of the fourth. Megill was impressive against the Astros, striking out three over 2 1/3 scoreless innings of work. With the injury to José Quintana, Megill is fighting for the fifth spot in the Mets’ rotation.

The Mets’ offense woke up in the top of the seventh, where a couple of top prospects made an imprint on the game. Brett Baty drove in the first run of the inning, scoring Francisco Álvarez on a ground-out to second base to give the Mets a 2-1 lead. After Abraham Almonte and Pham walked to load the bases, Ronny Mauricio singled up the middle to increase the Mets’ lead to 4-1.

John Curtiss entered the game in the bottom of the seventh after the Mets’ took the lead. He was dominant, retiring all three batters with strikeouts. Curtiss — who is looking to make the Mets’ bullpen out of spring training — has struck out six batters in three scoreless innings this spring.

The Mets’ offense continued to add on in the top of the eighth. With two outs in the inning, Jaylin Davis clubbed a solo home run to bring the Mets’ lead to 5-1.

Trailing by four runs late in the game, the Astros began to chip away at the Mets’  lead in the bottom of the eighth inning. Facing Joey Lucchesi in his spring debut, C.J. Stubbs and Collin Price both walked, setting the stage for Logan Cerny. The Astros’ outfield prospect singled up the middle, scoring Stubbs and cutting the Mets’ lead to 5-2.

After the Mets’ failed to score in the top half of the ninth, the Astros’ late-game rally continued. Zach Greene — the Mets’ rule five draft pick from the Yankees — entered the game needing only three outs to secure the Mets’ sixth win of the spring. However, he got into trouble after walking Corey Julks and allowing a single to Tyler Whitaker. With one out and two runners on base, Stubbs provided the big blow, clubbing a home run to center field to tie the game at 5-5.

Justin Courtney came in to relieve Greene — who’s ERA ballooned to 12.27 after allowing three runs — and retired Cristian Gonzalez with the bases loaded to end the game.

The Mets and Astros decided to end the game after the end of the ninth inning despite the tie score. The Mets’ spring record is now 5-5-1.

Prospect Watch

While Baty has been impressive with his bat in spring training so far, his defense shined in Tuesday’s draw with the Astros. He had one play that was Arenado-esque, where he threw out a runner at first base after retrieving a ball in foul territory.

Baty also knocked in a run, hit a single, and stole a base.

Mauricio continued his torrid start to spring training in Tuesday’s game as well. The Mets’ sixth prospect drove in two runs with a single up the middle in the top of the seventh. Mauricio is now hitting .429 in spring training and has driven in seven runs in 14 at-bats.

On Deck

The Mets will play the Nicaragua national team on Wednesday, March 8. The game will begin at 6:10 p.m. at Clover Park in Port St. Lucie. The projected starters are Max Scherzer and JC Ramírez.