SAN DIEGO — Wilmer Font’s mission in his spot start Wednesday was to give the Mets a few innings and keep the team competitive.
To that end, the right-hander succeeded, allowing two earned runs on three hits over four innings in the Mets’ 3-2 loss to the Padres at Petco Park.
“I had great communication with Tomas [Nido] and we figured out a way to throw good pitches,” said Font, who arrived from the Rays this week for a player to be named or cash considerations.
Font, who had spent this season as a reliever, was on a 70-pitch limit, according to manager Mickey Callaway. But with Font at 60 pitches, he was removed for a pinch-hitter in the fifth. The four-inning appearance was Font’s longest since last June 29.
“I liked his stuff,” Callaway said. “A downhill fastball, good split and he flashed a plus-slider a couple of times. He threw strikes and got ahead and did a heck of a job, so that was a great first impression and it looks like we have got a pretty good pitcher there.”
Callaway said he was fine with Michael Conforto’s base running in the seventh inning, when Conforto didn’t score from second base on Brandon Nimmo’s double. On the play, Manuel Margot reached above the center-field fence and kept the ball from clearing. The ball popped out of Margot’s glove, but Conforto was forced to stop at third and ended up stranded there.
“[Conforto] was halfway and the ball was in [Margot’s] glove as he was coming down,” Callaway said. “Conforto had to take a couple of steps back and the ball fell out and then he was kind of juking and jiving at them and ended up going to third. He did everything you possibly can on that.”
With Jed Lowrie expected to be activated from the injured list Friday, the Mets will face a roster decision. Among the possibilities is that outfielder Keon Broxton will be designated for assignment. The struggling Broxton hit into a double play in a pinch-hitting appearance and owns a .394 OPS. But such a move would leave the Mets with only four outfielders. J.D. Davis and Adeiny Hechavarria are other candidates for removal from the 25-man roster — either could be sent to Triple-A Syracuse.
Steven Matz is expected to play catch within the next two days to test his left forearm, which was bothered by a nerve irritation that forced him to skip Wednesday’s start. If Matz is without discomfort, Callaway said, he may start Tuesday in Washington. Otherwise, the Mets could place Matz on the injured list, backdating his stay to Sunday.
Pitching coach Dave Eiland will miss Friday’s game to attend his daughter’s college graduation in Florida. It’s expected Eiland will return in time for Saturday night’s game at Citi Field. Bullpen coach Chuck Hernandez will move to the dugout in Eiland’s absence.
