One week away from Opening Night in baseball and the Mets are looking to get back on the right track after being winless in their last nine.
Steven Matz took the mound today for the Mets. Michael Conforto returned to action today after reports of back spasms, along with Lucas Duda and Yoenis Cespedes also returning to the starting lineup.
Matz would pitch for 5 2/3 innings allowing one run on one hit. Walked four batters, including two in the sixth. Good outing for Mets ace.
David Wright started the scoring with a opposite-field line drive homerun in the bottom of the first. Michael Conforto would follow suit in the second inning, sending a two-run shot to right field, giving the Mets a 3-0 lead.
Clint Robinson would homer off of Steven Matz in the fourth to decrease the lead in to two. David Wright would respond with another RBI single in the fifth to bring the Mets lead back up to three.
The Mets relief pitchers would get themselves into trouble and eventually give up the lead. Former Met, Matt den Dekker, would begin the comeback with a line-drive to right bringing the lead down to 2. In the eighth, Chris Heisey would ground into a force out. Mets reliever Jerry Blevins would make a throwing error on a pickoff attempt and first, scoring the tying run. The game would end in a 4-4 tie, leaving the Mets winless in their last ten.
In the post-game presser, Terry Collins would attribute some of the bullpens issues to their velocities being down. Terry Collins labels it the dead-arm part of spring training.
In other news…
Asdrubal Cabrera went 3-for-4 and played four innings at shortstop in a minor league game. Cabrera is scheduled to play in Grapefruit League on Monday, according to Adam Rubin of ESPN.
Zach Wheeler continues his rehab process after Tommy John surgery and remains on schedule to return in June/July of 2016.
Michael Conforto came back strong, hitting a two-run homerun after reportedly dealing with back spasms. David Wright also had a strong game going 2-4 with 2 RBI’s and one scored run.
Keep an eye on the health of the teams key players as the regular-season opener approaches. The goal is to have the teams projected starting lineup available for the opener on Sunday Night Baseball.
Mets will take the field again tomorrow against the Nationals as Bartolo Colon takes the hill for New York.
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