In Sloppy Game, Mets and Marlins End Tied

In a game that featured five errors, the New York Mets and Miami Marlins ended in a 4-4 tie at Clover Field. The Mets, with four of the miscues, played their sloppiest game of the spring to date. On the plus side, ex-Marlin Jonathan Villar went deep for the Amazins’ who now have a 3-2-1 Grapefruit League record.

After the game, manager Luis Rojas announced that Jose Martinez suffered a twisted knee and will be reassessed on Monday.

Pitching

After a perfect first start just five days ago, Marcus Stroman struggled in his first inning of work today, allowing two runs on two hits, a walk, a HBP and a wild pitch. He did collect a strikeout of Marlins outfield prospect JJ Bleday. Stroman faired much better in his second inning, collecting one strikeout on a nasty slider along with a flyout and a groundout. Stroman would work out of trouble in the third inning, a leadoff triple from Isan Diaz and a one-out walk didn’t trouble Stroman who handled a comebacker and turned a ‘double play’ that ended up being a zero play in what was already been called one of the strangest plays of the season thus far. See video below.

Greatest double play of all time pic.twitter.com/byRNWQ8ETK

— Duck Duck Gusev???? (@DuckDuckGusev) March 7, 2021

Marcus Stroman, Wicked 83mph Slider…and K Strut. pic.twitter.com/fj9wF7yrgG

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) March 7, 2021

Aaron Loup came in to pitch the fourth inning and he was involved in much more of an eventful inning than his first appearance of the Spring. Loup allowed a lead-off double to Marlins first-baseman Lewin Diaz. Diaz would come around to score on a dropped flyball by Kevin Pillar. The next batter Chisholm would hit a sharp ground ball to Luis Guillorme who caught Monte Harrison in a rundown, Harrison would then reach third base safely after McNeil dropped the ball while trying to tag him, the second Mets error of the inning. No other runs scored in the inning thanks to a pop-up, a strikeout and a caught stealing thrown from Tomas Nido.

Jacob Barnes came in to pitch the fifth inning looking to improve on his horrendous first outing of Spring four days ago. With one out in the inning, Barnes would allow two hard-hit singles, and a second fielding error by Jeff McNeil would leave the bases loaded with one out. No runs would score ultimately as both batters would fly out to end the inning. Barnes ERA now stands at 13.50 for the Spring.

Jerry Blevins got the ball in the sixth inning and immediately walked the lead-off batter, and allowed a ‘wind-aided’ single that Kahlil Lee misjudged that put runners on second and third. Blevins then hit the next batter to load the bases with nobody out. Blevins struck out the next batter, then allowed a sharp groundball to McNeil who got the force out at third-base and botched the throw to first base, McNeil’s third error of the day. Blevins collected his second strikeout to end the inning.

Trevor Hildenberger struck out the side in the top of the seventh inning on just 14 pitches. A very impressive start to Spring training from the former Twins reliever, who has struck out six batters thus far. This was followed by an impressive debut from southpaw Daniel Zamora who allowed just one hit and struck out one in his inning of work. Stephen Nogosek got himself into some trouble in the ninth inning, issuing three walks however no runs scored as Nogosek struck out three batters in the inning that featured 36 pitches.

Offense

The Mets bats were ice cold for the first three innings, Pete Alonso collecting the only hit, a single off Marlins ace Pablo Lopez. A lone walk from Luis Guillorme would be the only other baserunner Lopez would have to deal with, helped by three double-plays in his three innings of work.

The Mets threatened offensively for the first time in the fourth inning. With one out, Kevin Pillar smoked a double off Yimi Garcia (103.5 mph off the bat), Jeff McNeil was then hit by a pitch to put runners on first and second, the hitless Jonathan Villar stepped up and collected his first hit of the Spring, a three-run moon-shot off veteran reliver Yimi Garcia (105.5 mph off the bat) to tie the game 3-3.

In the fifth inning, Luis Guillorme hit a leadoff single against new Marlins pitcher James Hoyt, he was pinch-ran for by Johneshwy Fargas, Fargas would go on to steal second base and tag-up and advance to third base on an Almora Jr. flyball. Fargas came around to score on a wild pitch by Hoyt, giving the Mets the lead in the fifth inning.

In the ninth inning of a 4-4 tie,  the Mets threatened to walk it off. Singles from Bruce Maxwell and a Caleb Joseph  left runners on the corners with two outs for newly acquired Kahlil Lee. Lee would groundout to end the inning giving the Mets their first tie of the season.

On Deck

Tomorrow the Mets head to The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches to face another division rival in the Washington Nationals. Jordan Yamamoto will start the game for New York, while Joe Ross will make his Spring Training debut for the Nationals. First pitch from south Florida is 1:05 PM.

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