New York — The New York Mets won their first game of the season Thursday and split a doubleheader with the Detroit Tigers 2-1 after Pete Alonso hit a tying home run in the ninth inning and Tyrone Taylor produced a game-winning single.
Obviously, nice to get the first one finally,” said rookie manager Carlos Mendoza, bathed in beer, champagne, and eggs after his first big league win. New York's second-game debut hit was Harrison Bader's eighth-inning bloop single. The Mets (1-5) broke through in the ninth to avoid opening 0-6 for the first time since 1963, their second season.
After two straight rainouts, Citi Field's 15,020 declared audience on a chilly afternoon was the fewest for a Mets game since the ballpark opened in 2009, excluding pandemic limitations in 2020 and 2021. “I'm just really happy that we were able to turn the page and win the second game,” added Alonso.
following Colt Keith's tiebreaking double, New York lost 6-3 in 11 innings following a three-run lead. Two-run single by Gio Urshela. Javier Baez scored early in the second game for the Tigers (5-1), the last unbeaten big league team.
“We just won two back-to-back series, so obviously happy with that,” manager A.J. Hinch said. Definitely a tough loss. Our lead was little throughout the game. Nothing came across to extend it.” Bader's easy single to left-center halted Matt Manning and Tyler Holton's no-hit bid and the Mets' longest hitless streak by innings. Francisco Lindor was struck out by Alex Faedo, stranding Bader at second base.
Faedo, a converted starter seeking his first big league save, let up the home run to Florida teammate Alonso on a low changeup. Alonso scored his 500th RBI with the drive. “I just felt it. Ah, nice, Alonso said. “Definitely needed that one.” Brett Baty advanced on Starling Marte's sacrifice bunt and scored on Taylor's first walk-off hit after Faedo (0-1) walked him.
Taylor: “That’s a clutch knock by Bader for us. “I think after that it gives (the) guys a little urgency, confidence.” Reliever Reed Garrett (1-0) won his second major league game with three shutout innings. Jose Buttó, who allowed one run and struck out six in six innings, avoided a defeat until New York rallied.
Manning, promoted from Triple-A Toledo to be the Tigers' 27th man for the doubleheader, walked four, including Brandon Nimmo three times, in 5 2/3 innings. He didn't allow a hit, and Holton got four outs before Bader singled.
“Honestly, not my best stuff,” Manning added. I understood the team, bullpen, doubleheader, and everything, so I was just like, do whatever you have to do to eat up innings. After a 6-0 start in 2015, the Tigers opened 5-0 with Shelby Miller (2-0) pitching two scoreless innings. After three one-run triumphs against the Chicago White Sox, Detroit won two extra-inning games over the Mets.
Returning from Tommy John and back surgery, Detroit starter Casey Mize allowed three runs in 4 1/3 innings. Last pitching in the majors was April 2022 for the 2018 amateur draft top pick. “Felt a lot out there — just excitement and pride and joy,” Mize remarked. "The box score wasn't great, but I was super proud of the work I put in and the people who helped me get back, and was happy to be back and competing in the big leagues with my team.
Michael Tonkin (0-2) lost for New York again. Adrian Houser, acquired from Milwaukee in December, yielded one run in five-plus innings in his Mets debut. It was 43 degrees at first pitch, the coldest at Citi Field since April 17, 2018. Fifth, the crowd roared when the sun broke through the clouds. The doubleheader was the Mets' earliest and the Tigers' second-earliest, which they played against Pittsburgh on April 1, 2018.
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