Walker, Mets continue surge vs. Astros
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PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- The Mets' spring power binge continued Friday afternoon at First Data Field, where the Mets backed Noah Syndergaard in his spring debut with their second consecutive double-digit run output.
Neil Walker hit his second two-run homer in as many days, Lucas Duda added a two-run double in his Grapefruit League debut and the Mets coasted from there, tagging Astros reliever Brady Rodgers for six runs and Ashur Tolliver for three in a 11-3 victory.
Houston starter Charlie Morton was far more successful than his relief corps, holding the Mets scoreless over the game's first two innings. But the Mets broke through against Rodgers in the third, receiving RBI singles from Asdrúbal Cabrera and Jay Bruce prior to Duda's double.
The Mets tacked on five more in the fifth on Walker's homer, RBI hits from prospects Dominic Smith and Amed Rosario, and a run-scoring passed ball.
Syndergaard reached as high as 99 mph on the stadium radar gun during his two scoreless innings. The Astros did not plate their first run until the sixth, when Teoscar Hernández hit a sacrifice fly off Josh Edgin. Jake Marisnick added a solo homer off Kevin McGowan in the seventh inning, and finished the day with three hits and a steal. Carlos Correa tacked on a sacrifice fly.
Astros up next
Right-hander Joe Musgrove, who's competing with Mike Fiers for the No. 5 spot in the rotation, will make his second start of the spring when the Astros meet the Mets in Jacob deGrom's spring debut at 12:05 p.m. CT Saturday at The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches. Musgrove held the Mets to one run and three hits in two innings on Monday.
Mets up next
The Mets' rollout of top starting pitchers will continue Saturday, when deGrom makes his spring debut opposite Musgrove in a 1:05 p.m. ET rematch against the Astros. This will be the Mets' first game at The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches, the Astros' and Nationals' new $150 million facility in West Palm Beach, Fla.
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