The Atlanta Braves played their first Spring Training game of the Grapefruit League and lost to the New York Mets 8-2. Outfielder Kirk Nieuwenhuis led the Mets offense past the Braves with a four-hit performance including a first inning RBI single off Wandy Rodriguez.
Rodriguez is one of handful of starters who are competing for the Braves fifth starter spot. He only went one inning (30 pitches) today giving up one run on two hits. Rodriguez had spotty control throughout his one inning of work as he walked two batters. He did strike out one and limited the damage as the Mets had multiple runners in scoring position.
The Braves offense responded in the bottom of the inning as they loaded the bases thanks to a couple walks by Eric Young Jr. and Jace Peterson. Freddie Freeman followed with a sharp single before Jonny Gomes hit a sacrifice fly. A.J. Pierzynski came up with two outs and hit a sharp single through the left side of the infield to score Peterson and give Atlanta a 2-1 lead.
That would be the only lead the Braves would have as the Mets scored two runs in the fifth inning off of an Eric Campbell two-run double. Atlanta non-roster invitee reliever Matt Capps surrendered those runs. It wasn’t a great debut for him but fellow non-roster invitee reliever Jose Veras struggled more. Veras came on in the sixth inning and allowed five runs and recorded only two outs. He surrendered two walks and three hits, one of which was a three-run homerun by Johnny Monell.
Atlanta’s next game is tomorrow against the Detroit Tigers in Lakeland at 1:05 PM EST. Julio Teheran and Eric Stults will pitch two innings apiece, and Christian Bethancourt will be behind the plate. The Mets will face the Washington Nationals tomorrow at 5:05 PM EST. Bartolo Colon will make his Spring debut for the Mets.