The New York Mets secured a 14-3 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium on Friday in spring training action. MJ Melendez paced the offense, going 2-for-3 with two home runs and four RBI, giving the coaching staff plenty to be encouraged about as the exhibition schedule continues. On the mound, Freddy Peralta turned in a solid outing, working 3.0 innings of scoreless ball with three strikeouts. The Mets finished with 14 hits on the day while holding the Cardinals to 8. 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
MJ Melendez was the offensive highlight at the plate, going 2-for-3 with two home runs and four RBI. His power was on full display throughout the game. The Mets will be hoping for more of the same as the spring continues.
A.J. Ewing also contributed, going 2-for-2 with a home run and two RBI, Austin Barnes chipped in, going 1-for-3 with a double and two RBI, and Kevin Parada added to the attack, going 1-for-1 with two RBI. Multiple contributors at the plate made life difficult for the opposing pitching staff.
On the other side of the diamond, JJ Wetherholt led the Cardinals offense with a 1-for-3 with a home run and an RBI day. Nathan Church also contributed, going 1-for-2 with a double and an RBI. Chase Davis added a 1-for-2 with a double and an RBI effort as well. Despite those contributions, the Mets pitching staff did enough to limit the damage and secure the victory.
On the Mound
Freddy Peralta earned the win after battling through his outing, working 3.0 innings while allowing 0 earned runs on 0 hits with three strikeouts. He threw 29 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 combined for 6.0 innings of work, allowing 3 earned runs while striking out seven. 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, Justin Hagenman stood out with 3.0 innings of 2-run work, striking out four. It was an impressive showing that could factor into roster decisions.
How It Happened
The Mets struck first, pushing across a run in the first inning. The Mets plated a run in the fourth. Cardinals answered with a run in the fourth. The Mets responded with five runs in the fifth. Cardinals countered with a run in the fifth. The Mets struck back with a run in the seventh. Cardinals answered with a run in the seventh. The Mets responded with three runs in the eighth. The Mets pushed across three runs in the ninth. The Mets spread their scoring across six different innings, applying consistent pressure throughout the game. The Mets out-hit Cardinals 14-8 on the day, with 2 errors committed between the two clubs. A crowd of 4,717 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.
