The New York Mets rolled to a 6-1 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals at Clover Park on Tuesday in spring training action. Francisco Alvarez paced the offense, going 2-for-3 with a home run and two RBI, giving the coaching staff plenty to be encouraged about as the exhibition schedule continues. On the mound, David Peterson turned in a solid outing, working 4.0 innings of 1-run ball with three strikeouts. The Mets finished with 14 hits on the day while holding the Cardinals to 3. The Mets will take confidence from a well-rounded effort on both sides of the ball. Spring training is about building toward the regular season, and this was a step in the right direction.
Key Performers
Francisco Alvarez was the top performer at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a home run and two RBI. His power was on full display throughout the game. The Mets will be hoping for more of the same as the spring continues.
Jorge Polanco provided support, going 2-for-2 with a home run and an RBI, Brett Baty also contributed, going 2-for-3 with two RBI, and Ji Hwan Bae chipped in, going 2-for-2 with a triple and an RBI. Multiple contributors at the plate made life difficult for the opposing pitching staff.
On the other side of the diamond, Nelson Velázquez led the Cardinals offense with a 1-for-2 with a home run and an RBI day. Victor Scott II also contributed, going 1-for-3 with a double. Brody Moore added a 1-for-2 effort as well. Despite those contributions, the Mets pitching staff did enough to limit the damage and secure the victory.
On the Mound
David Peterson earned the win after turning in a quality outing, working 4.0 innings while allowing 1 earned run on 2 hits with three strikeouts. He threw 52 pitches in the outing. The coaching staff will review his performance as they continue mapping out the pitching plan for the regular season.
The bullpen was sharp, combining for 5.0 scoreless innings while striking out six. The Mets continue to sort through their relief options as they build their Opening Day bullpen. Every inning pitched in the spring is an opportunity for pitchers to make their case for a spot on the roster when the games start counting.
Among the relievers, Christian Scott stood out with 3.0 innings of scoreless work, striking out four. It was an impressive showing that could factor into roster decisions.
How It Happened
Cardinals got on the board first with a run in the first inning. The Mets countered with a run in the first. The Mets plated three runs in the third. The Mets added a run in the fourth. The Mets tacked on a run in the sixth. The Mets spread their scoring across four different innings, applying consistent pressure throughout the game. The Mets out-hit Cardinals 14-3 on the day, with 2 errors committed between the two clubs. A crowd of 5,557 was on hand to take in the action.
Looking Ahead
The Mets will look to build on this positive performance as spring training winds down. With the regular season rapidly approaching, outings like this one provide confidence and continuity for a roster that is rounding into form. Every remaining exhibition game is another chance to sharpen the details before the games start counting for real.
