The New York Mets (2-2-1) dropped a listless game to the St. Louis Cardinals (3-2), 6-0 at Clover Park in St. Lucie. The Mets scattered eight hits, but couldn’t bring any across in their fifth game of spring.
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Jonah Tong started for the Mets and, after looking strong in the first two innings, faded in the third and gave up a three-run home run to Nolan Gorman to put the Cardinals up by a trey.
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The Mets threatened in the fourth, when a trio of 26th man candidates reached base via single: Christian Arroyo, Vidal Bruján, and Cristian Pache all reached base with two outs before a fourth player in the same category, Grae Kessinger, popped straight up to the catcher to end the inning.
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Top outfield prospect Carson Benge went 3-3 with three singles.
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Scoreless outings from Luis García, Adbert Alzolay, and Douglas Orellana kept the game within three until Nick Burdi took over in the sixth. Nelson Velázquez doubled to lead off the frame and a hit by pitch and a walk loaded the bases. A Chase Davis single to the right side plated two more, and St. Louis was up 5-0.
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Joe Jacques didn’t fare much better in the seventh, giving up a run on three hits.
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Of note to Cardinals fans was switch-pitcher (yes, you read that right) Jurrangelo Cijntje tossing two scoreless innings from the right side.
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A.J. Ewing doubled to lead off the eighth in his second at-bat of the game, but was stranded by Cijntje.
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Matt Turner and Aaron Rozek finished the game for the Mets, each tossing a scoreless frame.
The Mets take on the Astros in West Palm Beach tomorrow at 1:05pm. Nolan McLean will make his spring debut against Houston.
