The Mets faced off against the Astros at CACTI Park of The Palm Beaches and unfortunately came up short, falling 8-2. This loss nudged New York to a 10-8 record in the Grapefruit League, with one tie thrown in the mix.
Freddy Peralta was on the mound for the Mets and showcased some impressive skills. Over four innings, he allowed just one hit and one earned run, striking out five and walking one.
His only blemish came in the first inning when Yordan Alvarez drove in a run with a single. Peralta's performance was a bright spot, lowering his spring ERA to a solid 2.70.
Luis García stepped in for the fifth inning and kept the Mets in striking distance with a scoreless frame.
Things stayed tight until the sixth inning when Alvarez struck again, this time with a three-run homer off Saul Garcia. Saul had a rough outing, giving up three earned runs on just one hit and two walks, though he did manage to strike out two.
The Mets showed some life in the seventh inning, cutting the deficit with a run driven in by Jose Ramos, bringing Ben Rortvedt home. This narrowed the Astros’ lead to three.
However, Houston responded with a three-run burst in the bottom of the seventh against Jordan Gerber. Gerber pitched 1 1/3 innings, surrendering three earned runs on three hits, with one walk and two strikeouts.
Colton Cosper took over in the eighth, allowing an unearned run on two hits. He walked one and didn’t record any strikeouts.
In the ninth, Cristian Pache chipped in with a single to drive in Rortvedt, giving the Mets their second run.
Rortvedt and Pache both had solid performances at the plate, each collecting two hits. Overall, seven other Mets added a hit each.
Among the promising talents, top prospects Carson Benge and A.J. Ewing continued to impress. Benge maintained a .367 average with an OPS of .839, while Ewing boosted his average to .381 and an OPS of 1.090, showcasing their potential as future stars in the lineup.