PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- Noah Syndergaard cracked triple digits on the radar gun in striking out nine over six innings Friday, but the Cardinals put up a three-spot in the ninth to rally for a 5-5 tie at Tradition Field.
Syndergaard continued his dominant spring with six innings of two-run ball, allowing RBI doubles to Matt Adams and Matt Carpenter. He gave up just three other hits on the afternoon, walking no one in an outing that actually increased his Grapefruit League ERA to 2.04. Syndergaard is scheduled to make one more start in Florida before pitching in the Mets' second game of the season on April 5.

Cardinals starter Michael Wacha was not quite as efficient, giving up eight hits over 4 2/3 innings. But he allowed only two of those baserunners to score, one of them on an unearned run. Matt Reynolds, who is fighting for a spot on the Opening Day bench, drove home both Mets runs off Wacha. He added a third RBI on a sacrifice fly against Tyler Lyons to give the Mets the lead in the sixth.
• Wacha confident in process after mixed outing
"There was some good and some bad stuff," said Wacha, who has allowed 23 hits and nine runs (eight earned) over 12 2/3 spring innings. "I'm definitely going to look over the start. There are quite a few things I want to work on before the next start. But overall, I'm just still working on some stuff. Things are getting a lot better. Moving forward, I guess."

In his first game against his old team since signing with the Cardinals, Ruben Tejada finished 2-for-3 with a pair of singles. He also committed an error when a Kevin Plawecki grounder ate him up in the bottom of the second.
Down 4-2 entering the ninth, Randal Grichuk pulled the Cardinals within a run when he socked a solo shot off Mets' closer Jeurys Familia. Adams and Brandon Moss followed with singles before Jedd Gyorko tied the game on a double to left field. Familia issued an intentional walk to Carlos Peguero to load the bases, and the Cardinals took a 5-4 lead on an unintentional walk to Greg Garcia.
"I think it's notable against anybody," Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said of his team's three-run rally off the Mets closer. "I thought it was a great effort late."
• Flores makes debut at first base
"Sometimes this time of camp, especially coming off the year we had last year, the arms just don't bounce back from outing to outing," Mets manager Terry Collins said. "This was the second time Jeurys has gone back-to-back days. He had no sink today. I think he'll be OK."

The Mets tied the game on a two-out RBI single from Kevin Kaczmarski in the bottom half of the ninth off Miguel Socolovich.
Up next for the Cardinals: Lefty Tim Cooney is expected to return to Grapefruit League action on Saturday when the Cardinals host the Nationals at Roger Dean Stadium. The game will start at 12:05 p.m. CT and air on MLB.TV and Gameday Audio. Cooney, who was slowed by shoulder soreness after his March 12 outing, will pitch in relief of starter Mike Leake, who will be making his penultimate start of spring. Leake has allowed one run in his first 11 Grapefruit League innings.
Up next for the Mets: The Mets' last long road trip of spring will take place Saturday, when Jacob deGrom takes the two-hour bus ride north for a game against the Braves at Disney. Looking to quell concerns about his velocity, deGrom will oppose Braves right-hander Bud Norris in the 1:05 p.m. ET game that will air on MLB.TV and Gameday Audio.