The Mets lost to the Washington Nationals, 9-5, on Monday.
Here are the takeaways...
- Francisco Lindor was robbed of an extra-base hit his first time up on a diving catch by Victor Robles in the left center field gap. In his second at-bat, Lindor lined a comebacker that ricocheted off Nats reliever Luis Avilan for an infield hit that was his first hit as a Met. In his third at-bat, Lindor lined a single to left field and finished his day 2-for-3.
- Making his spring training debut, Matt Allan retired the first two batters he faced by getting Kyle Schwarber to ground out and striking out Starlin Castro swinging. He then ran into trouble, allowing a well struck double to Alex Avila and then a bloop single to Carter Kieboom. His inning should've been over after he got a grounder from Luis Garcia, but Jake Hager botched the play. Hernan Perez then singled on another bloop hit and Yadiel Hernandez reached on a dribbler to the mound. The inning was then rolled over. Overall, Allan allowed three runs (one earned) on four hits with one strikeout and no walks.
- After retiring the first two batters he faced in his inning of work, Dellin Betances allowed a long, two-out double to Castro and then induced a grounder to second base that should've ended the inning. However, J.D. Davis' throw to first (he was in the shift) sailed wide, allowing an unearned run to score. Betances then got a ground out to shortstop to end his inning.
- Brandon Nimmo, Michael Conforto, and Dominic Smith combined to go 0-for-8.
- Robert Gsellman worked around two hits while pitching a scoreless inning in relief.
- Jordan Yamamoto allowed two runs (both unearned due to his own throwing error) on three hits while striking out two and walking one in 3.0 innings. On the fringes of the race for the fifth spot in the starting rotation, Yamamoto will likely be at the Mets' alternate site to start the season.
- PROSPECT WATCH: Khalil Lee went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts, Brett Baty went 0-for-2 with a strikeout, Mark Vientos went 2-for-2 with a double and two runs scored, Pete Crow-Armstrong went 0-for-1 with a run scored, and Francisco Alvarez went 0-for-2.
WHAT'S NEXT
The Mets host the St. Louis Cardinals on Tuesday at 1:10 p.m. on SNY.
Taijuan Walker is expected to get the start for New York.