The New York Mets cruised to a 6-2 victory over the Houston Astros at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches on Thursday in spring training action. Luis Robert Jr. paced the offense, going 2-for-4 with two doubles and two RBI, giving the coaching staff plenty to be encouraged about as the exhibition schedule continues. On the mound, Kodai Senga turned in a solid outing, working 4.0 innings of scoreless ball with four strikeouts. The Astros out-hit the Mets 8-7 on the day. 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
Luis Robert Jr. was the standout at the plate, going 2-for-4 with two doubles and two RBI. His extra-base hit was a key moment in the game. The Mets will be hoping for more of the same as the spring continues.
Brett Baty added to the attack, going 1-for-3 with a double and an RBI, Jose Aular provided support, going 1-for-2 with an RBI, and Bo Bichette also contributed, going 2-for-2. Multiple contributors at the plate made life difficult for the opposing pitching staff.
On the other side of the diamond, Brice Matthews led the Astros offense with a 2-for-2 with a double and an RBI day. Yordan Alvarez also contributed, going 2-for-3 with an RBI. Cam Smith added a 1-for-3 with a double effort as well. Despite those contributions, the Mets pitching staff did enough to limit the damage and secure the victory.
On the Mound
Kodai Senga earned the win after turning in a quality outing, working 4.0 innings while allowing 0 earned runs on 3 hits with four strikeouts. He threw 63 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 4.3 innings of work, allowing 1 earned run while striking out nine. 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, Craig Kimbrel stood out with 1.0 innings of 1-run work, striking out three. It was an impressive showing that could factor into roster decisions.
How It Happened
The Mets struck first, plating a run in the second inning. The Mets tacked on two runs in the fourth. The Mets pushed across three runs in the fifth. Astros struck back with a run in the fifth. Astros added a run in the seventh. The Mets spread their scoring across three different innings, applying consistent pressure throughout the game. Astros out-hit the Mets 8-7, with 1 error committed between the two clubs. A crowd of 4,400 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.
