Lucas Duda walloped a towering home run for the only run of the game as the Mets lost to the Marlins by the score of 9-1 at Tradition Field in Port St. Lucie.

John Lannan started for the Mets and pitched two very solid innings, allowing just one hit and striking out three – all swinging. He had the best pitching performance of the day by far.

Josh Edgin got hammered for five runs on five hits, but only three of them were earned due to some sloppy defense as the Mets committed three errors in the game.

Among those vying for a bullpen spot, Scott Rice pitched a perfect inning, but Kyle Farnsworth, John Church, Ryan Reid and Vic Black all had some rough outings. Black was nearly pulled in the eighth as Terry Collins got Steven Matz up in the pen. But he managed to get out of the inning without further damage

The only offensive highlight was Duda’s home run. He finished 1-for-3 and it looks like this first base battle is going to be a good one as both Davis and Duda now have a homer each. I predict that each will hit a grand slam on Sunday. 

The Mets are off to an 0-2 start in Grapefruit League play and travel to Jupiter today to play the St. Louis Cardinals. Right-hander Daisuke Matsuzaka makes his spring debut at 1:05 p.m. ET.