Taijuan Walker Makes Spring Debut in 4-2 Victory

The New York Mets took care of the Washington Nationals by a score of 4-2 at Clover Park in Port St. Lucie, FL today. Led by some timely hitting and solid pitching, the orange and blue were able to stave off the pesky Nationals from any late inning rally.

Taijuan Walker made his 2022 debut after his winter surgery and pitched two solid innings to open the game. Outside of a sun-induced dropped ball between Luis Guillorme and Robinson Cano in the infield, Walker allowed only the one hit and did not allow a walk. David Peterson piggybacked and followed suit with 3 2/3 innings in his second spring stint. Lane Thomas’s two-run home run over the batter’s eye in the fourth inning was the extent of Peterson’s faced damage in an otherwise calm one walk, five strikeout outing.

The Mets’ bats awoke in the bottom of the fourth as a Cano groundout drove in Jeff McNeil who tripled to lead off the inning. After an Eduardo Escobar walk, and a Dominic Smith ground-rule double, Guillorme was unable to drive in the pair after a dribbler in front of the plate. 

In the bottom of the fifth, catcher Hayden Senger was hit by a pitch to lead off the frame. After a Brandon Nimmo fly out, Mark Canha doubled in Senger. McNeil followed suit with a single of his own, bringing in Canha to give the Mets a 3-2 edge. Escobar added an insurance run via the long ball in the bottom of the sixth. 

Stephen Nogosek, Chasen Shreve, and Sean Reid-Foley closed out the game with a combined 3 1/3 innings. Together, they allowed one hit, no runs, one walk, and struck out three. Other positive results was Nimmo having himself a two-hit game. Touted prospect Brett Baty also chipped in with a hit off the bench.

Player of the Game: Jeff McNeil

Getting some prep time in right field, McNeil filled the score sheet going 2-for-3 with a single and a triple. He also drove in a run and scored a run of his own. McNeil will surely see time in multiple positions this season. He, like several Mets this year, is looking for a bounce back in 2022.

On Deck: 

The St. Louis Cardinals will be in Port St. Lucie for Sunday’s contest as the Mets look to stay above .500 this spring. The weekend finale is set to feature the unusual occurrence of piggybacked aces. Jacob deGrom and Max Scherzer are both scheduled to pitch ahead of the opening series in Washington, D.C tomorrow.