St. Lucie - Syndergaard Dominates, Mets Hang on for 11-8 Win

 

Syndergaard throws 4 scoreless innings with 5 strikeouts vs. Palm Beach

 

JUPITER, Fla. (May 19, 2021) – Noah Syndergaard was dominant in his first rehab outing and the St. Lucie Mets survived a pair of furious rallies to hold off the Palm Beach Cardinals 11-8 on Wednesday at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium.

 

Syndergaard (Tommy John surgery) pitched in his first live game since spring training 2020. He was sharp and efficient, limiting the Cardinals to one hit on just 44 pitches over four scoreless innings. Syndergaard retired the first 11 batters he faced. He did not walk a batter and struck out five.

 

While Syndergaard was mowing through the Cardinals lineup with ease, the Mets offense was busy building an 8-0 lead. Matt Dyer ripped a two-out, two-run single in the first inning. The Mets plated five in the second to go up 7-0. The big blow was a three-run double by Warren Saunders on a 3-0 pitch from Will Guay.

 

Shervyen Newton belted a RBI double in the third inning to make it 8-0.

 

The Cardinals put a dent into the Mets big lead with a six-run sixth inning. LJ Jones and Jacob Buchburger hit back-to-back two-run doubles. Mets reliever Junior Santos was able to get a double play and ground out to keep the Mets ahead 8-6.

 

The Mets scored three runs without a hit in the seventh inning to pad their lead to 11-6. An error on third baseman Jordan Walker allowed two runs to score with two outs. Jaylen Palmer scored on a wild pitch later in the inning.

 

The Cardinals put together one last rally in the bottom of the ninth. Jordan Walker hit a RBI single to bring a run home, but left fielder Brandon McIlwain threw out Matt Koperniak at the plate to end the game, stranding the tying run on deck.

 

Santos was credited with the win. He pitched four innings of relief of Syndergaard. Austin Faith closed out the game in the ninth.

 

Dyer and Zach Ashford had two hits apiece. Palmer scored three runs. Ashford and Jose Peroza scored two runs apiece.

 

The Mets drew 10 walks.

 

The Mets (10-4) will aim for a four-game winning streak when the take on the Cardinals again on Thursday at 6:30 p.m.