Pete Alonso drives in run, Max Kranick allows first runs of spring in Mets' loss to Nationals

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – It was not a great night for Mets pitchers with pristine spring ERAs Saturday night, as they suffered a 4-1 loss to the Nationals at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches.

The Mets fell to 8-11-3 this spring, while Washington upped its record to 11-9-1.

Here are the main takeaways:

- Clay Holmes, the converted reliever who will start the Mets' season opener in 12 days, came into his start having thrown 9.2 scoreless innings this spring. But he gave up his first run of camp with two outs in the fourth inning when Paul DeJong hit an RBI double. Holmes gave up two hits in the frame; he had given up two hits all spring before that.

Holmes left the game after giving up a one-out single in the fifth inning. Reliever Max Kranick surrendered a triple to Daylen Lile, the first batter he faced, meaning Holmes was charged with a second run. Holmes allowed three hits and two runs in 4.1 innings, striking out two and walking one.

The right-hander now has a 1.29 ERA this spring and opposing batters are 5-for-49 against him, a paltry .106 average. Holmes, who threw 77 pitches, will get six “ups” in his last tune-up before the opener, Carlos Mendoza said.

- Kranick had come into the game with a spotless ledger, too, having not allowed a run over eight innings -- but the Nats got him, too. Kranick allowed two runs and three hits over 1.1 innings of work, including a two-run double to José Tena in the sixth that ended Kranick’s evening and pushed Washington’s lead to 4-1. His ERA went from 0.00 to 1.93 during his outing.

- The Mets took a 1-0 lead in the third inning on a fielder’s choice grounder by Pete Alonso with the bases loaded. Alonso hit a hard shot to third that DeJong snagged. DeJong ran and touched third and tried to nab Alonso at first for what would’ve been an inning-ending double play, but Alonso beat the relay and got a spring RBI for his hustle.

- Luisangel Acuña, vying for playing time as a utility man or perhaps as the second baseman in Jeff McNeil’s absence, made a snazzy play at second in the first inning, diving to his left for a grounder and throwing out Nathaniel Lowe at first. The crowd gasped. Acuña later stole his third base of the spring.

- It remains to be seen how many at-bats Jesse Winker, a left-handed hitter, will get against lefties during the regular season. But on Saturday night he offered a tantalizing case for at least a few. In the second inning, he led off with a loud double to left field against southpaw starter Mitchell Parker.

One inning later, he drew a walk against Parker. Last season, Winker had 104 plate appearances against lefties, batting .236 with a .674 OPS. In 404 plate appearances against righties, Winker hit .258 with a .788 OPS.

-Former Nationals star Juan Soto got a nice hand from Nats (and Mets) fans before his first at-bat. There was a noisy contingent of Met rooters at the game.

-Mets lefty reliever A.J. Minter threw a scoreless seventh inning in his second outing of the spring. He picked a runner off at first base, according to the box score.

Game MVP

Not the Mets’ clutch hitting department. The club went 0-for-10 with runners in scoring position.

Highlights

Pete Alonso with an RBI to bring Donovan Walton in for the first run of the game pic.twitter.com/S7aAWARLzP
— SNY (@SNYtv) March 15, 2025

Topics

Clay Holmes strikes out eight, Mets hit two home runs in 7-6 win over Nationals

The Mets scored six runs in the first inning on two home runs and Clay Holmes dazzled with eight strikeouts, as New York beat the Washington Nationals, 7-6, in spring training action.
Yahoo Sports - 6d
Spencer Jones reaches three times, Ben Hess pitches in Yankees' Spring Breakout loss to Orioles

The Yankees took on the Baltimore Orioles in their Spring Breakout Game on Saturday night, here's everything you need to know.
Yahoo Sports - 7h
'Let's think OTAs': LSU football announces changes to annual National L Club Spring Game

LSU football is changing the format of the annual National L Club Spring Game. Here's what you need to know.
Yahoo Sports - 13h
Yankees allow five ninth-inning runs in walk-off loss to Astros

Yankees pitchers dominated the Astros lineup until the ninth inning, where New York allowed five runs, including a walk-off, three-run home run in their 5-2 loss to Houston on Saturday night.
Yahoo Sports - Mar. 9
NFL free agency, offseason updates: Sam Darnold is Seattle's $100.5M man, per reports

Here's the latest news and everything you need to know about the first major wave of NFL player movement this spring.
Yahoo Sports - 5d
SEE IT: Mets’ Kodai Senga throws ‘miracle ball’ pitch in spring training game

During his second spring game, Mets ace Kodai Senga threw a slow curveball to a Cardinals hitter. Like the ghost fork, the right-hander has a name for it.
Yahoo Sports - 1d
Kodai Senga rediscovering peak form is more important than ever for Mets rotation

Kodai Senga was just "ok" in Friday's spring training start against the Cardinals, but the Mets need their ace healthy and to find his peak form to compete with their rotation riddled with injuries.
Yahoo Sports - 1d
Mets' Edwin Diaz has 'better' spring outing against Red Sox: 'From the first pitch, there was conviction'

Mets closer Edwin Diaz had his best outing this spring, throwing just 18 pitches to get three outs on Thursday against the Boston Red Sox.
Yahoo Sports - 2d
New Bedford Half-Marathon is Sunday. Here's everything you need to know.

The New Bedford Half Marathon will bring over 2,000 runners to the city on Sunday, March 16. Here's what to know if you plan to go.
Yahoo Sports - 23h

Pete Alonso drives in run, Max Kranick allows first runs of spring in Mets' loss to Nationals

Here are the main takeaways:

Game MVP

Highlights

Topics

Related

Clay Holmes strikes out eight, Mets hit two home runs in 7-6 win over Nationals

Spencer Jones reaches three times, Ben Hess pitches in Yankees' Spring Breakout loss to Orioles

'Let's think OTAs': LSU football announces changes to annual National L Club Spring Game

Yankees allow five ninth-inning runs in walk-off loss to Astros

NFL free agency, offseason updates: Sam Darnold is Seattle's $100.5M man, per reports

SEE IT: Mets’ Kodai Senga throws ‘miracle ball’ pitch in spring training game

Kodai Senga rediscovering peak form is more important than ever for Mets rotation

Mets' Edwin Diaz has 'better' spring outing against Red Sox: 'From the first pitch, there was conviction'

New Bedford Half-Marathon is Sunday. Here's everything you need to know.

More from Yahoo Sports

Technology provides benefits for West Virginia football

Commanders bring back former No. 4 overall pick for 2025

LIVE UPDATES: Bishop Stang vs. Hingham girls hockey MIAA state championship

Huge mock draft update after 1st wave of free agency

Indiana women’s basketball March Madness predictions: Where Hoosiers could land in NCAA bracket

More in Sports

Technology provides benefits for West Virginia football

Commanders bring back former No. 4 overall pick for 2025

LIVE UPDATES: Bishop Stang vs. Hingham girls hockey MIAA state championship

Huge mock draft update after 1st wave of free agency

Indiana women’s basketball March Madness predictions: Where Hoosiers could land in NCAA bracket