PORT ST. LUCIE — The Mets defeated the Houston Astros 6-2 in their Grapefruit League opener on Saturday afternoon at Clover Park.
Here are some takeaways…
– It didn’t take long for Juan Soto to make his mark in a Mets uniform. The superstar outfielder was welcomed by a rousing ovation as he took the field in the top of the first — and again when he stepped to the plate in the bottom half of the inning — and he responded by cracking an opposite field solo home run four pitches later.
Soto missed a 2-0 fastball from Houston’s Colton Gordon, but when the southpaw came back with the heat a second time he was sure to make him pay, crushing his first hit as a Met. The slugger came up with the bases loaded and one out in his next at-bat, but grounded into a fielders choice, before bringing his day to an end.
While it’s still just one game into spring training, Carlos Mendoza admitted pregame that it felt “really good” to write-in Francisco Lindor, Soto, and Pete Alonso as the top three in his order.
– Lindor and Alonso both played three innings in the field as well. Lindor opened his spring with a pop out to former Met Zack Short, and then he drove in a run with a fielders choice as he came up with the bases loaded and nobody out in the second. Alonso reached base once, drawing a walk a few pitches after winning a challenge with the ABS system.
– Clay Holmes‘ transition to the starting rotation is one of the biggest storylines to watch over the next few weeks in camp, and he certainly made a strong first impression. The right-hander was extremely efficient as he worked his way through three perfect innings, throwing 34 pitches to induce four groundouts and strike out three. All of Holmes’ punchouts were confirmed by the ABS system following Houston challenges.
– Francisco Alvarez received the start behind the dish — he caught three innings and finished 1-for-3 with an RBI single. His backup, Luis Torrens, was the DH for the afternoon and he was on-base twice with a pair of singles. Top catching prospect Kevin Parada slotted in for Torrens during the later innings, and he struck out in each of his two at-bats.
– Justin Hagenman threw two scoreless innings and Austin Warren threw one of his own.
Highlights
Upcoming schedule
The Mets have a split-squad doubleheader on Sunday, starting at 1:10 p.m.
Max Kranick takes the ball against the Marlins in the home-half, while Ty Adcock travels to West Palm to take on the Nats.
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