A quick wrap-up from Port St. Lucie after the Metsâ 3-2 win today over the Dodgers at Tradition Field: 1. Johan Santanaâs pitching and Moises Alouâs hernia surgery obviously were the story of the day, overshadowing the Metsâ fifth consecutive Grapefruit League victory after a 0-3 start.
2. All five wins in the streak have come in the final inning. The latest last-inning heroics were supplied by Anderson Hernandez, whose one-out single to right scored rookie-leaguer Gregory Veloz with the winning run.
3. Angel Pagan will make the team simply because of all the outfield injuries, but the one-time Met and, more recently, Cub is doing enough to earn playing time outright this spring. Pagan started in center field and went 1-for-2 with a walk, raising his spring average to .429.
4. The Metsâ bullpen continues to look strong for the most part. Rule 5 pickup Steven Register pitched two more scoreless innings today and hasnât been scored on in four innings overall this spring, while Scott Schoeneweis was better with two strikeouts in a scoreless inning. Even Joe Smith, who has struggled so far in camp, pitched a scoreless ninth for the victory.
5. Pedro Martinez makes his spring starting debut tomorrow night in Viera, Fla., against the Nationals. Keep in mind that itâs a 7:05 p.m. start. Itâs not being shown on TV in New York but it will be broadcast on radio by WFAN.
