Mets 3, Tigers 2. [Boxscore]
Summary: Mets top Cats in low-scoring affair.
Pitching: The starting pitching is fine, but the bullpen, the weakest link on the roster, continues to show some major concerns.
Drew Smyly started the game, and tossed three scoreless innings, striking out 3 while yielding 3 singles and a walk. Lots of off-speed pitches.
Luke Putkonen handled the 4th and 5th innings, giving up a single while whiffing 3.
Phil Coke... once again, he gets hammered, giving up 2 singles and a walk to load the bases with no outs. Fortunately, he induced a double play ball to limit the damage to just one run. A diving catch from Carrera in the LF gap let Coke escape without any further damage two outs later.
What's even more concerning is that his location this spring has been horrible (the walk was to a lefty!), and his FB is down to 88 from the mid-90's. This spring, in 4 innings over 4 appearances, he's given up 9 hits, 1 walk, 4 runs, and gotten 2 K's. They're hitting him at a .474 clip and he carries a 2.50 WHIP.
I really hope the team doesn't carry him when they go north, or they will regret it. They have better LHP options (Ledzema, et al) now.
Bruce Rondon was sharp, fireballing a perfect 7th inning and striking out one.
Al Alburquerque was his usual so-so self - 3 K's, a single, and a walk. He's gonna be trouble down the line. Wish the Tigers would replace him with someone else - I don't care if he can throw high-octane, because if he can't keep his pitches in the same zip code as the ballpark, he's no good.
Justin Miller took over for the last inning, and boy, did he stink. With one out, he issued a walk and a single, putting runners at the corners. A double by Clark cleared the bases and cost the team the win. He also had a strikeout, not that it mattered.
Offense: Yet another low-scoring affair. They've swiped 15 bases so far this spring (17 in each of the last 2 years; the highest in recent times was 20 in 2006), including their third double steal (The donkelly and Fields) in the past 8 days.
The Cats had a total of 5 hits (2 doubles), and 5 walks. Here's how they did.
Kinsler, 1-3, double in the 6th, and then he was doubled off on a line-drive catch by Seratelli.
Hunter, 1-2, a single, walk, and a CS in the 4th inning.
Moya, 1-1, a double.
The donkelly, 1-2, single, walk, SB (2), and a run scored.
Castenellos, 0-3, walk.
Fields, 0-2, 2 walks, a SB (2), and a run scored.
Lombardozzi, 1-3, 2nd inning single to drive in The donkelly and Fields.
Defense: DP, 2. (No further info available on those.)
Next game: Sunday, Tigers @ Marlins, 1:05 Eastern. Scheduled starter: Porcello.
- Detroit Radio: WXYT 1270.
- Miami Radio: 940 AM WINZ.