David Peterson (Ed Delany/MMN)
The Mets’ bats were quiet on Sunday as the team scattered six hits in a 10-1 loss to the Houston Astros in Port St. Lucie.
Pete Alonso and Luis Guillorme, a pair of infielders fighting for major league roles, both doubled. Veteran outfielder Gregor Blanco, in camp on a non-roster invite, recorded the team’s only RBI when he drove in Wilson Ramos in the second inning.
2018 National League Cy Young Award winner Jacob deGrom made his season debut and looked like his usual self, touching 98 mph in one inning of work.
deGrom was relieved by David Peterson, our no. 5 prospect, who stepped on the same mound at First Data Field where he made five starts last season. Unlike fellow lefty Anthony Kay, who turned in a strong performance on Saturday, Peterson was tagged with four hits, a walk, and three earned runs in his inning-long outing.
To be fair, he should have gotten out of the inning sans damage, but a borderline call by the home plate umpire that didn’t go Peterson’s way and peculiar infield positioning on soft-hit ground balls allowed Tony Kemp to drive in two with a triple. Peterson — likely ticketed for Binghamton’s Opening Day rotation — threw his fastball around 88-90 mph, touching 92, while seemingly prioritizing his changeup.
The wheels fell off when former major leaguer Arquimedes Caminero, pitching in the United States for the first time since 2016, imploded for five hits and six runs, including a three-run home run to Chuckie Robinson, who had a .661 OPS in A-ball last season. Caminero’s fastball, which routinely hit triple digits during his last stint in the majors, sat in the low 90s without much life to it. He’ll likely be one of Syracuse’s most-used relievers in 2019.
Casey Coleman, Joshua Torres, and Ryder Ryan combined to allow two hits and no runs over the final three innings. Coleman, pitching without a camp invite, sat 92-94 with a good-looking curveball that dipped all the way down to 77 mph. He’s attempting to return to the majors for the first time since 2014 when he made 10 appearances for the Royals.
The Mets and Astros will be back at it again on Monday, facing off in West Palm Beach. After scheduled starter Noah Syndergaard, the Mets are expected to throw lefties Daniel Zamora, Luis Avilan, and P.J. Conlon, and right-handers Drew Smith, Tyler Bashlor, Jacob Rhame, and Corey Taylor.
