The New York Mets dropped a 8-2 decision to the Houston Astros at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches on Saturday in spring training play. Despite Cristian Pache's 2-for-4 with an RBI effort at the plate, the Mets could not overcome a sizable deficit. On the mound, Freddy Peralta turned in a solid outing, working 4.0 innings of 1-run ball with five strikeouts. The Mets finished with 11 hits on the day while holding the Astros to 7. Despite the result, the coaching staff gathered useful data on the current state of the roster. Spring training losses sting, but the information gained will inform decisions as Opening Day approaches.
Key Performers
Cristian Pache was the standout at the plate, going 2-for-4 with an RBI. His steady bat was exactly what the lineup needed. Performances like this give the Mets confidence that the lineup is rounding into form.
Jose Ramos added to the attack, going 1-for-2 with an RBI, Ben Rortvedt provided support, going 2-for-2 with a double, and A.J. Ewing also contributed, going 1-for-2. While there were individual bright spots, the lineup could not string hits together consistently.
On the other side of the diamond, Yordan Alvarez led the Astros offense with a 2-for-3 with a home run and four RBI day. Joey Loperfido also contributed, going 1-for-1 with an RBI. CJ Alexander added a 1-for-3 with an RBI effort as well. The Astros offense proved to be too much for the Mets pitching staff to contain on this particular day.
On the Mound
Freddy Peralta took the loss after delivering a strong performance, working 4.0 innings while allowing 1 earned run on 1 hit with five strikeouts. He threw 56 pitches in the outing. It was exactly the kind of outing the Mets need from their pitching staff heading into the regular season.
The bullpen combined for 3.3 innings of work, allowing 6 earned runs while striking out four. Spring training gives the coaching staff a chance to evaluate bullpen depth, and today provided useful information about the current state of the bullpen. Each reliever is auditioning for a roster spot, and innings like these factor into those decisions.
Among the relievers, Saul Garcia stood out with 1.0 innings of 3-run work, striking out two. His performance was one of the day's bright spots from the bullpen.
How It Happened
Astros got on the board first with a run in the first inning. Astros tacked on three runs in the sixth. The Mets countered with a run in the seventh. Astros struck back with three runs in the seventh. Astros added a run in the eighth. The Mets responded with a run in the ninth. The Astros were able to score in four separate innings, keeping the pressure on throughout the contest. The Mets out-hit Astros 11-7 on the day, with 1 error committed between the two clubs. A crowd of 4,348 was on hand to take in the action.
Looking Ahead
It was not the outcome the Mets were looking for, but spring training provides a forgiving environment to work through the rough patches. The focus remains on preparation and development, and the coaching staff will use today as a teaching opportunity. The regular season is right around the corner, and every game is a chance to improve.
