The Mets scored six runs in the first inning on two home runs and Clay Holmes dazzled with eight strikeouts, as New York beat the Washington Nationals, 7-6, in Grapefruit League action.
Here are the takeaways…
– Holmes made his third start of spring training and continued to look strong in his new role. The right-hander issued a leadoff walk to open the game but settled in to get a groundout and back-to-back strikeouts to end the first inning. Holmes had a similar second inning, getting two more strikeouts with a walk and a forceout.
The 31-year-old kept it going in the third, striking out the side with one walk. The third strikeout came after he fell behind in the count 3-0 against Nathaniel Lowe, but settled in to throw three straight strikes. Holmes tacked on another strikeout to his total in the fourth inning and finished his day after letting up a double and recording another out.
Holmes’ final line: one hit, eight strikeouts, and three walks on 67 pitches over 3.2 innings of work.
– The Mets’ offense exploded in the bottom of the first inning, scoring six runs on two homers. Mark Vientos got the party started with a two-run blast to left field off Cardinals starter Jake Irvin, his first home run of the spring. Pete Alonso singled, Jeff McNeil doubled, and Luis De Los Santos walked to load the bases for catcher Jakson Reetz. Competing for a potential backup job following the injury to Francisco Alvarez, Reetz showed off his power and crushed a grand slam to put New York up 6-0.
– The trumpets played for the second time this spring, as Edwin Diaz came in to pitch the top of the fifth inning. He looked a bit out of tune to start, walking the first two Nationals hitters, but found his rhythm and struck out three straight to end the frame. The closer relied heavily on his fastball after struggling to locate his slider early in the count, although, all three Ks came on the breaking ball.
– Reliever Grant Hartwig was reassigned to minor league camp earlier on Sunday, but entered in the top of the sixth, replacing Diaz. Hartwig let up two hits and walked one, but didn’t allow a run thanks to two pop-outs and a force out. Hartwig pitched in four games for New York during the 2024 season, owning a 6.75 ERA over 6.2 IP. He had a 4.34 ERA over 33 appearances with Triple-A Syracuse.
– LHP Génesis Cabrera had a rough outing, lasting just 0.1 IP. He allowed five runs on four hits with a walk and was replaced by Daniel Juarez with the bases loaded after two runs crossed the plate. Another run scored on an error by Wyatt Young and then Juarez plunked Daylen Lile to make it a 6-4 game. Nasim Nuñez singled to tie it up at 6-6. Juarez escaped after 0.2 IP, allowing one run on one hit with a walk.
– Travis Swaggerty doubled off the wall in left field and advanced to third on a fielding error with one away in the bottom of the eighth inning. He came around to score on a sacrifice fly from De Los Santos to give the Mets a 7-6 lead.
Highlights
What’s next
The Mets host the St. Louis Cardinals on Monday night at Clover Park. First pitch is scheduled for 6:10 p.m. on SNY.
Competing for a spot in the starting rotation, RHP Griffin Canning will make his second appearance, but first start of the spring.
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