Cards' Adams belts two HRs in exhibition loss to Mets

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- Noah Syndergaard allowed one hit in three scoreless innings in his spring training debut, helping the New York Mets beat the St. Louis Cardinals 7-2 Thursday.

Syndergaard, who finished fourth in NL Rookie of the Year voting last year, retired his first eight batters. He struck out two and walked none.

"I felt great out there," Syndergaard said. "It was nice getting out there, getting my feet wet. A little amped up. It's been a long wait to get on the mound and be able to get out there and compete, but overall it was a pretty solid performance."Ruben Tejada hit a two-run homer for the Mets after replacing Asdrubal Cabrera, who left in the first inning with a knee injury.

Matt Adams homered twice for the Cardinals, including a two-run drive. Stephen Piscotty had a hit, walked and stole a base.

Wilmer Flores added two hits for the Mets and Alejandro De Aza had two hits and scored twice.

Cardinals starter Jaime Garcia allowed three hits in 3 2/3 shutout innings, struck out two and walked one.

Cardinals catcher Brayan Pena said Garcia's pitches had a lot of movement Thursday.

"Using the sinker today, it was pretty good. Everybody knows that's his bread and butter. It was fun to be behind home plate with him today. I think the changeup was our key factor today. It really gets the hitters off balance and then we went back there attacking with the two-seam and then finishing with a slider or a curveball."

Trainer's room

Cardinals prospect Patrick Wisdom, who homered Wednesday, has a minor hamstring injury and likely will be out a week.

Up next

Carlos Martinez makes his first spring training start today against the Braves. It's his first outing since getting shut down late last season with shoulder tightness. Set-up men Seung Hwan Oh and Seth Maness are also scheduled to pitch.