Perhaps the addition of J.D. Martinez will be a game changer for the Mets over the long season.
However, nothing could change the first match.
Martinez had a successful debut, racking up his first few hits with his new team, but was unable to turn on the Mets’ offense and was largely turned off in a 4-2 loss, ending the series with the Cardinals with 24,159 hits. It was the opening day. Friday night at Citi Field.
The Mets (13-12) lost the first game of a seven-game homestand, largely due to several mistakes by Jose Butt, but the Mets’ offense made mistakes in key moments. I continued to do so.
Martinez didn’t sign until late spring and looked like he could help right away as he needed to strengthen his body and swing, but he also doesn’t pitch and shouldn’t be seen as an immediate savior.
Butt had ups and downs, pitching 5/3 innings, allowing 4 hits, 4 runs, and 3 walks.
The 26-year-old exploited an early hole for the Mets in the second inning.
After a hit-by-pitch and a walk, Alec Burleson found a changeup up the middle and fired a bomb to right-center, immediately putting the Cardinals up 3-0.
One inning later, it was a middle-of-the-field sinker that Willson Contreras smashed an estimated 445 feet from the second deck of the left field seats — an area rarely reached.
But Butt retired the next 11 batters he saw, continuing to keep Cardinals hitters off balance and extending a game that could have ended sooner.
He kept the Mets in the game, but the offense couldn’t make it count.
The Mets only scored in the fifth (Tomas Nido’s home run against Queens, his first in nearly 11 months) and in the sixth (Martinez’ Francisco Lindor double).
Otherwise, the Mets, who outscored the Cardinals 8-5, had chances but squandered most of them.
Carlos Mendoza’s offense went 2-for-11, putting runners in scoring position and reaching fifth base.
An example of frustration with Cardinals starter Miles Mikolas, who entered the game with a 6.49 ERA:
- Brandon Nimmo’s leadoff double and Starling Marte’s subsequent infield hit were wasted in the first inning. After Lindor fouled out, Pete Alonso grounded into a double play.
- Martinez reached second base in the second inning, but Harrison Bader and Brett Batty were retired.
- Nido hit a double in the third inning, advanced to third base on Nimmo’s flyout, and watched as Marte struck out and Lindor grounded out.
The Mets went after Mikolas in the sixth inning, but he was only able to get one hit against three Cardinals relief pitchers.
