Edwin Diaz bounces back, Brett Baty reaches base twice as Mets fall to Red Sox

The Mets lost to the Red Sox, 3-2, on Thursday afternoon as their spring training slate continued.

Here are the takeaways…

– David Peterson gave up a leadoff homer but limited the damage after that.

It was an uneven start for the left-hander, though, as he allowed two runs (one earned) on three hits while walking two and striking out one in 3.2 innings.

Peterson, who threw 69 pitches (43 strikes), has a 0.84 ERA this spring.

– Brandon Nimmo was back in the lineup for the first time since missing over a week of game action due to a knee issue that required a gel injection.

In his first at-bat, Nimmo smoked a single to right field. He finished 1-for-3 with a strikeout.

– Edwin Diaz allowed a leadoff double before settling in to retire the next three batters on a fly out, strikeout swinging, and a fly out. He threw 18 pitches, with 12 going for strikes.

It was a bounce back effort for Diaz, who was erratic during his first two spring appearances.

Diaz’s strikeout came on a slider (which Triston Casas flailed at), while his fastball topped out at 96.3 mph.

– Brett Baty got the start at second base.

He cleanly fielded a liner in the first inning but made an error on a hard grounder hit to his right in the second inning.

Baty made a really nice play to get the second out of the third inning, ranging far to his right before making an off-balance throw to first base for the out. He also assisted on the third out — a routine grounder he fielded at the edge of the infield dirt and threw to first.

At the plate, Baty drew a walk his first time up. In the fifth inning, he led things off by looping a single to right field. He finished 1-for-2 with a walk, and has a 1.110 OPS this spring.

With Jeff McNeil out for Opening Day due to an oblique injury, Baty — who is expected to start at second base again on Friday — could have the inside track to the regular second base job to start the season.

– Francisco Lindor drew a walk and stole second base in the sixth inning.

– Ryne Stanek worked around a two-out walk to toss a scoreless inning. He has yet to allow a run in Grapefruit League play.

Highlights

Upcoming schedule

The Mets host the Cardinals on Friday at 6:10 p.m. on SNY.

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