The New York Mets downed the Tampa Bay Rays, 11-2, Tuesday night Tropicana Field in the opening game of a three-game series. Chris Young (1-0) pitched 5 2/3 innings, giving up nine hits and two walks with four strikeouts. He only gave up two runs, both earned, for his first win of the season. The Rays went 2-for-9 with runners in scoring position.
The Mets shook Rays starter Alex Cobb (2-3) for six runs, five earned, in 6 2/3 innings. Cobb gave up seven hits and three walks while striking out six.
Through six innings, the Mets held a 3-2 lead. Jordany Valdespin touched home on a throwing error in the first, and scored Omar Quintanilla and Kirk Nieuwenhuis on a single in the fifth.
The Mets then exploded for six runs in the seventh inning. With just one out to go until the eighth and no men on, Cobb walked Kirk Nieuwenhuis to set up an RBI single by Valdespin. The Mets then loaded the bases off a David Wright intentional walk and a Lucas Duda single off Rays reliever J.P. Howell. In the next two at-bats, Daniel Murphy hit a two-run single and Ike Davis hit a three-run home run to give the Mets a commanding 9-3 lead.
The Mets capped their scoring with two runs in the eighth inning. Valdespin grounded out to score Quintanilla and Duda hit his second single on the night to score Nieuwenhuis for a third time. Nieuwenhuis led the way at the plate, going 3-for-4 with a walk. Valdespin led the Mets with four RBIs.
Game 2 of the series is set for Wednesday at 7:10 p.m. ET. R.A. Dickey (9-1, 2.44 ERA) will take on the Rays' David Price (8-3, 2.40) in what should be an entertaining pitcher's duel.
For more on the Mets, head on down to Amazin' Avenue and stay tuned to SB Nation New York.