Those Mets

METS WIN SPRING TRAINING OPENER DESPITE B-LINEUP

The First Spring Training Game for all of baseball was Mets vs. Braves Tuesday, and the Mets got the job done, defeating Atlanta 4-2.
Late-morning rain and resulting wet fields prompted Mets manager Jerry Manuel to remove Luis Castillo, Jose Reyes, David Wright, Jason Bay and Jeff Francoeur from the original lineup. I would criticize him, but for a game that means nothing, I understand that he is not willing to take risks. Willie woulda kept them in though, just saying.
Dessens was removed during the third inning after being struck on the right knee by a McCann liner. Jesus Feliciano, who batted leadoff, had two singles, the Mets' only hits in the first three innings. He drove in the Mets' second run in the fifth with a bases-loaded sacrifice fly.
Ike Davis produced their first extra-base hit, a leadoff double in the fifth against Jesse Chavez. He scored from second base two batters later on a single by left-handed-hitting outfielder Jason Pridie. Ruben Tejada singled in the final run in the three-run fifth. Davis had an opposite-field single against left-hander Mike Dunn in his third at-bat. Russ Adams hit a long home run in the eighth inning. Starter Nelson Figueroa struck out Omar Infante, DH Mitch Jones and Nate McLouth with runners on second and third in the second inning. Bobby Livingston, summoned in relief of Dessens, allowed two walks and struck out four in 2 1/3 innings.