Baty, Young Impress as Mets Fall to Astros 8-5

The Mets took another trip down I-95 to take on the Houston Astros at the Cacti Park of the Palm Beaches on Tuesday afternoon.

Left-handed pitcher Brandon Waddell, who the Mets signed during the offseason, made his spring debut on Tuesday. It was his first career major league start as prior to Tuesday, he had not made a start in the major leagues. He has, however, pitched as a starter in the minor leagues. He has not pitched since 2022 after being released by the Cardinals toward the end of the 2022 season.

Waddell was opposed by one of the Astros’ top aces in right-handed pitcher, Ronel Blanco.

Both teams battled back and forth for the first three innings, trading leads, however, the Astros began to run away with it sixth and ultimately went on to defeat the Mets 8-5.

Waddell struggled with pitch count in the first inning. He gave up a walk to Isaac Peredes, a double to Christian Walker, then got Victor Caratini to hit a grounder, but a defensive fielding error allowed him to reach and two to score with two outs. After a chance to get out of the inning, he hit Ben Gamel with a pitch before working his way out of the inning, but not before his pitch count rose up on him. This led to Waddell only facing two batters in the second. The Mets went to the bullpen after Waddell gave up a one-out single to former Met, Luis Guillorme.

Following a rocky 1 1/3 inning for Waddell, the Mets handed the ball to the 24-year old righty, Alfred Vega, who also struggled against the Astros. He gave up two earned runs on two hits, two walks, and struck out one on 31 pitches.

Dakota Hawkins and Reed Garrett combined for 1 1/3 hitless inning. Garrett struck out one in one inning.

Chris Devenski gave up one run on one hit, but struck out two in his inning of work.

Austin Warren struggled in one inning of work, giving up two earned runs on two hits, and a walk in one inning, including a home run to the Astros’ top prospect, Cam Smith that put the Astros up 7-4.

Rico Garcia and Connor Overton closed out the pitching for the Mets. Garcio threw a scoreless inning with one strikeout. Overton gave up a home run to Smith (his second of the day) that extended the Astros’ lead to 8-4.

Offensively, Luisangel Acuña, Jesse Winker, Brett Baty, Jose Siri, and Jared Young had solid performances at the plate.

Acuna led the game off with a hit and later came around to score on an RBI single by Winker, who continues to swing the bat well this spring.

Baty stayed hot with two hits on Tuesday, including his first home run of spring, a solo shot to right center in the top of the third. He’s really putting the ball in the air with authority.

Jose Siri also knocked his first home run of a spring, a monster bullet to left center that got out in a hurry.

One of the other big impacters of the game on Tuesday was the newcomer to the Mets Jared Young, who is making a name for himself. Young reached base on all three of his plate appearances, collecting two hits, a walk, and a run scored. Young was signed as a free agent in December and is fighting to make the roster as a potential backup first baseman behind Pete Alonso. The 29-year old also has experience at second base.

Jett Williams also collected a hit on Tuesday as he looks to impress this spring.

Travis Swaggerty also joined in on the party with an RBI single late in the game.

The Mets out-hit the Astros 11-8, but the Astros capitalized more on scoring opportunities and despite a late attempt by the Mets to come back in the top of the ninth, The Astros went on to defeat the Mets 8-5.

Player of the Game

Brett Baty is Tuesday’s player of the game with two hits, an RBI, and a run scored. He now has five hits this spring.

ON DECK

The Mets are back on the road on Wednesday to take on the Miami Marlins at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium at 1:10 p.m. before they return to their spring training home, Clover Park on Thursday. It will be right-handed pitcher, Paul Blackburn on the mound for the Mets on Wednesday against right-handed pitcher Max Meyer for the Marlins.

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