Mets Lose Two To Injury In 10-4 Loss To Rays
Starling Marte. Photo by Ed Delaney, MMO
The New York Mets (6-8) took on the Tampa Bay Rays for the first time this spring training and fell behind late. The game Sunday afternoon in Port St. Lucie Florida at Clover Park ended with the Rays on top 10-4. The Mets also lost two players to injury, Starling Marte and Bryce Montes de Oca.
In a game started by Carlos Carrasco, the Mets found themselves in a hole going into the top of the fourth inning. After only allowing one base runner in the first two innings, a six-pitch at-bat by Rays’ left fielder Niko Hulsizer resulted in a 426-foot solo bomb to left center to give the Rays a 1-0 lead.
The Rays would add on to their lead in the fourth as Carrasco continued his day on the mound. After shortstop Tristan Gray reached safely on a Brandon Nimmo fielding error (he lost the ball in the sun), first basemen Kyle Manzardo homer to center to build the Rays’ lead to 3-0.
Carrasco’s day would be finished after the fourth inning. In his four innings pitched, he surrendered four hits, three runs, with two of those earned runs, but struck out four batters. Carrasco’s spring training ERA rests at 5.00.
Mets’ third basemen Danny Mendick got New York on the board in the bottom half of the inning. After doubling to start the inning, Mendick would steal third and reach home after a passed ball from allowed by Rays’ catcher Nick Dini.
Ronny Mauricio just hit his fourth home run of spring training (leads MLB).
The ball traveled a staggering 452 feet and left the bat at 108.3 MPH. #Mets pic.twitter.com/PfLfCQVqmL
— Metsmerized Online (@Metsmerized) March 12, 2023
In the bottom half of the fifth inning, Mets’ shortstop Ronny Mauricio does what he does best: hitting long balls. Mauricio’s 452-foot solo blast inched the Mets closer bringing the score to 3-2 and showed that the Mets phenom is continuing his impressive spring training.
Hulsizer would homer again in the top of the seventh inning off Mets reliever Drew Smith to give the Rays a 4-2 lead. However, the Mets would tie the game up after the first four batters reached base. Shortstop Kevin Kendall walked to lead off the inning center fielder Lorenzo Cedrola would single to put two men on for right fielder Omar De Los Santos. De Los Santos would single to drive home Kendall and move Cedrola to third. Third baseman William Lugo would walk to load the bases for left fielder Carlos Cortes, who would ground into a double play, but send Cedrola home to tie the game at 4-4.
With Mets’ pitcher Joey Lucchesi on the mound for the eighth inning, the Rays would take the lead and never look back from there. Tampa Bay scored three runs off Lucchesi, scoring two off a two-run double from Rays catcher Logan Driscoll. Hulsizer would single Driscoll home for the Rays third run of the inning and put them in front, 7-4.
The Rays would tack on three more runs in the ninth inning to close out the game. Of the three runs scored, another two-run double, this time off the bat of Manzardo, would start the Rays scoring for the inning. A sacrifice fly from Driscoll would send Manzardo home and cap off the Tampa Bay scoring and ultimately would give them the win, 10-4.
Ronny Mauricio. Photo by Ed Delany, MMO
Player of the Game: Ronny Mauricio
A common theme this spring training has been Ronny Mauricio taking home player of the game honors. His 452-foot shot pulled the Mets closer in the bottom of the fifth, as New York’s young star went 1-for-2 at the plate, as well as playing a great, defensive shortstop.
On Deck:
The Mets (6-8) will travel back to Sarasota, FL, to take on their division rival Miami Marlins (3-10), hoping to break their three-game skid. New York will play everyday for the next week until their next day off on Tuesday, March 21.
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