Mets Best Nicaragua 6-3 in WBC Exhibition
The Mets on Tuesday welcomed their own third baseman, Mark Vientos, and Team Nicaragua to Clover Park for an exhibition game before the tournament begins. They faced Mets No. 2 pitching prospect Jonah Tong.
Jonah Tong
Photo by Ed Delany of Metsmerized
Tong, who struggled a bit with the wet field conditions, lasted 2 2/3 innings, giving up one run on five hits—one being a single to Vientos. He threw 54 pitches (34 for strikes), striking out three.
Though he didn’t have his strongest stuff, Tong’s cutter looked more improved. He debuted it earlier this spring and has continued to adjust it. The spring is the time to do that.
The Mets got going in the bottom of the first with a lead-off double by Marcus Semien. He advanced on a groundout by Jorge Polanco (who was seeing his first spring action) and later scored on a sacrifice fly by Bo Bichette to put the Mets on top 1-0.
Nicaragua scored in the top of the third with a home run by Freddy Zamora to tie it 1-1.
Tong retired the next two he faced, but after back-to-back hits and Vientos coming back to the plate, Carlos Mendoza pulled Tong and brought in Brett Banks to replace him.
Mark Vientos
Photo by Ed Delany of Metsmerized
The Mets re-took the lead in the bottom of the third. Semien and Bichette walked, then Francisco Alvarez followed with a single that scored Semien to put them on top 2-1.
In the top of the fourth, Craig Kimbrel replaced Banks on the mound for the Mets and gave up back-to-back singles to start the inning. Zamora later hit a sacrifice fly that scored a run to make it a 2-2 game.
The Mets regained the lead in the bottom of the fifth. Bichette led off with a double. Jacob Reimer came in to pinch run for him and two wild pitches by Angel Obando allowed him to score to put New York back up 3-2.
They later extended that lead in the sixth. Jackson Cluff led off the inning with a single and later stole second. AJ Ewing and Chris Suero both walked to load the bases for Vidal Brujan, who singled, scoring Cluff and Ewing and to extend the Mets’ lead to 5-2.
Luis Garcia, Luke Weaver and Devin Williams each pitched Tuesday as well, combining for no-hit innings, with Williams striking out the side in the seventh.
Craig Kimbrel
Photo by Ed Delany of Metsmerized
Brooks Raley pitched the eighth for the Mets and gave up a lead-off home run that made it a 5-3 game.
Chris Suero continues to make a name for himself this spring, hitting a solo home run in the bottom of the eighth to make it 6-3. It was his second straight game with a home run.
Jefry Yan threw the ninth for the Mets, securing a Mets win.
Jefry Yan
Photo by Ed Delany of Metsmerized
Up Next
The Mets welcome Team Israel to Clover Park on Wednesday. Left-handed pitcher David Peterson will be on the mound for New York in his first outing of the spring.
Nolan McLean is also scheduled to pitch on the back fields before heading off to Team USA for the WBC.
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