PORT ST. LUCIE â- After two promising steps forward, Mike Pelfrey took a big step back today in his bid to unseat Orlando Hernandez for the Metsâ fifth and final rotation spot.
Pelfrey couldnât get his sinker down at all against Marlins here and lasted just 3 1/3 innings of a scheduled four-inning start. On a wind-swept day at Tradition Field, the right-hander gave up seven earned runs, seven hits and four walks on a win.
The big damage against Pelfrey cam in the third, when No. 7 hitter Brett Carroll blasted a two-run homer to right, highlighting a four-run inning by Florida.
Willie Randolph sent Pelfrey out for the fourth inning to get his work in, even though it was obvious Pelfrey didnât have it. Randolph finally brought the hook after he allowed a one-out double by Dan Uggla and back-to-back walks to Luis Gonzalez and Josh Willingham.
The disappointing outing came on the heels of two strong performances to start the Grapefruit League schedule by Pelfrey.
