Francisco Alvarez and Pete Alonso homer, Luis Severino sharp in Mets' win
Luis Severino of the Mets throws a pitch against the Marlins during the first inning of a spring training game at Roger Dean Stadium on Friday in Jupiter, Fla. Credit: Getty Images/Rich Storry
JUPITER, Fla. — The Mets had liftoff Friday night.
Francisco Alvarez homered for a second night in a row and Pete Alonso added a moonshot of his own, a 410-foot blast off the Marlins’ office building adjacent to the field, in the Mets’ 3-1 exhibition win.
Alvarez’s three home runs in camp are the most on the Mets.
“He should save a couple of homers for the season,” righthander Luis Severino said. “No, he was great. He’s going to be great for a long time.”
For Severino, the Mets’ highest-profile rotation addition, three scoreless innings against Miami marked his first time working with Alvarez, the starting catcher.
He was sharp — three hits, no walks, four strikeouts — but was looking forward to pairing up more.
“We need to work together more to get on the same page,” Severino said. “Because we got 15 seconds . . . So we just need to keep working, but he’s really good behind the plate.”
Manager Carlos Mendoza said: “It was good that Alvy had an opportunity to catch him and start that conversation. Overall, a good outing for Sevy.”
Diaz almost ready
The Mets are eyeing Monday or Tuesday for Edwin Diaz’s first Grapefruit League appearance, Mendoza said.
Diaz had another smooth outing in a minor-league game Friday afternoon.
“He felt good, quick three hitters and we asked him to stay out there for a fourth batter,” said Mendoza, who was able to watch because the Mets had a night game.
Cut day
The Mets sent six players to minor-league camp: Relievers Grant Hartwig, Josh Walker and Nate Lavender, outfielders Alex Ramirez and Taylor Kohlwey and righthander Chad Smith.
Tim Healey is the Mets beat writer for Newsday. Born on Long Island and raised in Connecticut, Tim has previously worked for the South Florida Sun Sentinel, the Boston Globe and MLB.com. He is also the author of “Hometown Hardball,” a book about minor league baseball in the northeast.
