The Mets traveled to Orlando yesterday to play against the Atlanta Braves at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. They defeated the Braves 6-2, for their first spring victory and dropped Atlanta to 0-6 in the Grapefruit League season.

Noah Syndergaard took the mound in his first spring game for the Mets and was opposed by journeyman Freddy Garcia for the Braves. Syndergaard came out firing darts and was very impressive as he blew his fastball by hitters consistently hitting the gun in the mid nineties.

His first victim was Jason Heyward as he threw 95, 96, 97, 97, 89, 94, and 98 MPH fastballs to finally put him away.  He retired the next two batters by getting them to put the ball in play and allowing the defense to make the outs.

In the second inning, Syndergaard over powered Evan Gattis by blowing 95, 96 and 96 fastballs on three consecutive pitches to strike him out. He gave up one hit and finished the game with a line of 2 inn,1 hit and 2 strikeouts on 30 pitches and a lot of swings and misses. Great job by the kid who had a ton of pressure and eyes on him…  Looking forward to seeing how Thor does in his next start.

Here’s the rest of the story:

• Jeurys Familia mimicked Syndergaard’s pitching line and did his part to show that he belongs in the Opening Day Mets bullpen. (2 IP,1 H and 2 strikeouts).
• Josh Edgin started the 4th inning by walking the first two batters he faced and was a bit wild. He loaded the bases and was saved by an inning ending double play. (1 IP, 1 hit, 2 BB, and a big thanks to his defense.)
• Miguel Socolovich pitched two innings,giving up 1 hit and 1 walk, but in the bottom of the seventh inning, with two men in scoring position, the Braves’ Tyler Greene hit a screaming line drive to centerfield and Matt den Dekker, laid out and made an amazing diving catch to rob a hit and RBI away from Greene.
• Ryan Reid, threw 1 inning, allowing 2 hit, 2 runs and 2 walks, but threw a wild pitch which allowed the Braves to score the tying run and make the score 1-1 in the 8th inning. Wilmer Flores, playing shortstop, made a nice play in the hole to track down a ground ball, but was unable to get the runner at first, which allowed the go ahead run to score making it Braves 2 Mets 1.
• Wilmer Flores got the Mets on the board with a Sac Fly to drive in Juan Lagares who earlier in the 4th inning got on base with a single.
• Chris Young batted lead off today and went 0-for-3, with two strike outs and 3 LOB and Juan Lagares batted second and went 1-for-3, 1 run, 1 K.
• With the Mets trailing by one in the top of the 9th, the future Mets did their part in bringing their team back in the game. Andrew Brown led off with a triple, Dustin Lawley, the Florida State Player of the Year, singled and Brown scored the tying run to make it 2-2.
• Next, Cory Vaughn (1 for 1 and 2 RBI), came up big and doubled into the left field corner, putting the Mets back on top, scoring Taylor Teagarden and Anthony Seratelli.
• Then Matt den Dekker singled to left and scored Vaughn putting the Mets up 5-2.  After a den Dekker stolen base, Eric Campbell,(2 for 3) singled to left to score MDD, as the Mets put up a 5-spot in the inning and led 6-2.
• Gonzalez Germen pitched the bottom of the 9th, and shut the door by pitching a 1-2-3 inning, striking out two and giving the Mets their first victory of the spring.

Coming Up: Mets are back at Tradition Field in Port St. Lucie today, and Zack Wheeler will make his spring debut and face the Houston Astros at 1:10 PM.

(Photo Credit: Howard Simmons/NY Daily News)