WASHINGTON — Throughout spring training, the Mets made situational hitting and beating the shift a priority under new hitting coach Chili Davis.
“It’s a mindset,’’ manager Mickey Callaway said. “It starts when you are on-deck.’’
That mindset became a reality in the Mets’ three-run first inning against Washington in an 11-8 win Saturday at Nationals Park.
Noah Syndergaard could not hold a 4-1 lead, but after the game was tied at 4-4, J.D. Davis laced a two-run single into right field with the bases loaded to score two. The Mets kept adding on and needed nearly every run as they used the entire field to beat the Nats.
In the first inning with one out, Pete Alonso singled to right against Stephen Strasburg, going with the pitch. After Robinson Cano struck out swinging, Michael Conforto shot a single into left field — right past where the shortstop has played for about the past 100 years — but because Trea Turner was shifted on the left-hand hitting Conforto, there was an easy base hit to pick up.
The Mets took advantage of all that green, and were 7-for-17 with runners in scoring position.
“That’s something we want our hitters to do,’’ Callaway said of beating the shift.
Conforto rarely hit the ball the other way last season, but he has made that adjustment.
Saturday’s game was situational hitting and base-running at its best. Alonso realized with the third baseman Anthony Rendon out of position, there was no one to cover the bag, so Alonso smartly kept running first to third. Strasburg came over late to cover and the throw from Victor Robles got away as Alonso safely landed at third base, and once the ball kicked away, Conforto easily took second base.
Wilson Ramos followed with a two-run double off the right-field wall, going with the pitch to right, to put the Mets on top, 2-0. Jeff McNeil (four hits) then lashed a triple off the center-field fence to put the Mets up, 3-0, a hit that ate up Robles in center as he was slow to get to the wall and then mistimed his jump.
The home run or strikeout approach is a thing of the past for the Mets. That’s how the Mets were built in the past, but Callaway and general manager Brodie Van Wagenen have instituted a new hitting philosophy taught by Davis and assistant hitting coach Tom Slater.
Take what the pitcher and the defense gives you.
“Our offense was fantastic,’’ Callaway said. “We’re taking a certain approach against the shift. I’m really proud what our hitters are doing.’’
