Mets take opener from Marlins, backed by Alonso's first career HR

Matz looked good from the start, unfortunately for him, his defense did not help. A passed ball on strike 3 on the first batter he faced ended up being the first of two unearned runs against him in the first. The Mets got one back in the second on an RBI double by McNeil, who continues to rake. New York tied it on a wild pitch in the fourth, but an RBI single by Castro in the sixth put Miami back on top 3-2. An unlikely hero in Juan Lagares hit a game tying HR in the 7th inning, and in the 9th, the Mets did exactly what they'd been preaching all offseason. Dominic Smith lead off with a single the other way, and Lagares got HBP to put 2 on for Nimmo. Nimmo's struggles continued, as he struckout, but Amed Rosario laced a single the other way to give the Mets their first lead of the day, 4-3. Then the big blast from Alonso, a 444 foot home run to dead center field put the Mets on top 7-3. It seemed like it would be smooth sailing from there, as Diaz came in for the 9th, but he loaded the bases on two hits and a walk. He did recover to strikeout the next 3, but his pitch count may leave him unavailable tomorrow. Regardless, the Mets take the opener in Miami to improve to 3-1 this season. It was an all around team win for the Metsies, who look to win their second straight series to start the season tomorrow.