Brett Baty homers again, Francisco Alvarez drills two-run single as Mets beat Tigers, 10-5
The Mets beat the Detroit Tigers, 10-5, on Thursday afternoon as their spring training slate continued.
Here are the takeaways...
- Brett Baty stayed hot, lofting a two-run homer to right-center in the fourth inning. It was Baty's third homer of spring training. Baty also drew a walk in the eighth. He's come on strong lately and is having a very nice spring, with an 804 OPS.
The expectation is that Baty will be the Mets' starting third baseman on Opening Day, with Mark Vientos seemingly set to be the regular DH.
- Vientos entered the game late. He lined a sharp single to center field his first time up and struck out in his second at-bat.
- After going hitless in his first three at-bats, Francisco Alvarez drilled a go-ahead two-run single to center field in the eighth inning.
- Dom Hamel showed flashes, featuring a good-looking curve and fastball that sat in the mid-90s, but he was hit hard in his three innings of work, allowing four solo homers.
Overall, Hamel allowed four runs on six hits while walking one and striking out two. He'll likely open the season with Triple-A Syracuse, and is probably third on the pecking order -- behind Christian Scott and Mike Vasil -- when it comes to when the Mets' starting pitching prospects might get the call to the majors.
- In the bottom of the fourth inning, Francisco Lindor was curiously called for obstruction for "blocking" second base on a steal attempt by Carson Kelly. The ball beat Kelly by about five feet and Lindor did not block the base while tagging him out, but Kelly was called safe anyway as the umpire ruled it was obstruction.
MLB is placing a greater emphasis this season on the obstruction rule for defenders blocking bases on steal attempts, but this one was dubious.
Watch the play here:
- Shintaro Fujinami had an up-and-down outing. His fastball touched 99 mph and his slider looked very good, but he uncorked two wild pitches (with one allowing a run to score) in his inning of work.
He allowed one run on one hit while walking none and striking out two, and clearly has more work to do -- and that work will almost certainly take place in the minors to start the year.
- Michael Tonkin, fighting for one of the final two spots in the bullpen, had a solid outing. He worked around a first-and-third, one-out situation in his first frame, getting a strikeout and ground out. In Tonkin's second inning of work, he issued a leadoff walk before recording three straight outs.
Tonkin went 2.2 innings while allowing one hit, walking two, and striking out one. He has not allowed a run this spring.
- Lindor and Pete Alonso each had singles, and Jeff McNeil drew a pair of walks.
- Zack Short clubbed a grand slam to left in the eighth inning. He has an .895 OPS this spring.
Highlights
Upcoming schedule
The Mets travel to Tampa to face the Yankees on Friday at 1:05 p.m.
