Mets offense beats up on Nationals pitching in 8-4 win

In their final home game of the spring, the Mets put up eight runs and 9 hits against a pitching staff comprised entirely of Nationals minor leaguers and came away with an 8-4 victory. The offense got started early against Joe Ross, scoring two runs in the first inning. A Matt Adams 3-run homer off Simeon Woods-Richardson in the top of the third put the Nationals out in front 3-2, but the game was tied 4-4 by the bottom of the sixth inning, when the Mets hung up a four spot to go out in front for good, with three of those runs coming on a bases-clearing double by Jeff McNeil.

While the Mets had their major-league lineup out there for the start of the game, they had their minor leaguers out on the mound for the whole game. The recently-demoted Tim Peterson got the start and pitched two innings, and was followed by Woods-Richardson for one inning. Zack Lee did the heavy lifting in this one, delivering four innings of relief, and Casey Coleman closed it out.

Some more notes from today’s game:

• Pete Alonso hit a triple in the first inning, and finished it off with a belly flop into third base. It was his only hit of the game.
• Juan Lagares blasted a solo home run in the fourth inning, his first of the spring. It was an encouraging sign from Lagares who has struggled to hit the ball with authority this spring.
• Michael Conforto and Robinson Cano continued their torrid springs with two more hits. They look ready to go.
• Wilson Ramos exited the game in the third inning after being hit in the hand by a ball that bounced in the dirt. The latest word is that X-rays are negative and he will travel with the team.
• Brandon Nimmo went 1-for-2 with two walks, and much like Cano and Conforto, looks to be completely ready for games that count.