The Mets came from behind to defeat the Detroit Tigers 5-4 today at Tradition Field and improved their Grapefruit League record to 9-10.
The winning run scored in the bottom of the ninth inning, on a walk-off single by Andrew Brown to score Anthony Seratelli.
Highlights:
Daisuke Matsuzaka, who is most likely to be the Mets fifth starter, was tagged for four runs on seven hits, walked a batter and struck out five. He also gave up a line drive bomb to Miguel Cabrera in the third inning, one of two homers hit off him today. So far this spring Dice-K has a 4.97 ERA.
Jeurys Familia followed and threw one inning, giving up a hit and striking out a batter. In five innings pitched this spring he has yet to give up a run.
Bobby Parnell pitched the top of the ninth with the score tied at 4-4, and set down the inning in order.
Eric Young Jr, started at second base, batted lead off and went 0 for 4.
Chris Young, playing in left field, went 1 for 3, double, RBI, a walk and is batting .297, he also hasn’t struck out in three games and actually has a six game hitting streak.
David Wright, went 1 for 4, with two strikeouts, and batting .182 with no home runs so far this spring.
Curtis Granderson, who was hitless in the last five games, went 1 for 4, with a run scored and struck out three times.
Eric Campbell, who is quietly making a name for himself, went 2 for 4, two runs scored, a home run and RBI.
Wilmer Flores, who started his third game at shortstop, went 1 for 4, with an RBI and one fabulous play in the ninth inning.
Juan Lagares went 2-for-4, with a run scored, and a stolen base. This spring he has hit safely in 8 out of 11 games, batting .306/.359/.361. Looks like he is making his case to be the starting centerfielder.
Thoughts from Joe D.
It was nice to see Andrew Brown get the big hit in the bottom of the 9th for the Mets today. He has shown a propensity for coming through in a big spot. He’s batting .290 and is making a solid case to come up north when the team beaks camp in less than two weeks. A few readers brought up the good point that while Matt den Dekker also brings a solid glove, his defense isn’t needed while Brown’s power is.
Daisuke Matsuzaka will likely be the team’s fifth starter, but lets not pretend he’s having a great spring – he’s not. The problem is that nobody else has stepped up either. Dice-K saw his ERA climb to 4.97 for the Spring.
In the battle for the leadoff spot, Eric Young Jr. went 0-for-4 and Juan Lagares went 2-for-4 with a run scored. Lagares is batting .306 compared to .241 for Young… As the saying goes, you can’t steal first base…
Coming up: The Mets have a day off on Wednesday, but will be back in action on Thursday at Tradition Field when they host the Atlanta Braves, with the first pitch at 1:10 pm.
