MIAMI — Max Scherzer threw 100 pitches in his final spring training appearance, hoping to leave him strong for the next few innings of the Opening Day opener.
“Unfortunately I gave up a couple of hits and I didn’t finish the game strong,” Scherzer said after the Mets’ 5-3 win over the Marlins on Thursday.
Scherzer homered in the sixth inning, but gave up doubles to Jacob Stallings and Luis Arraez, which gave the Marlins their first run.
Then, with two outs, Garrett Cooper hit a game-tying two-run homer.
The Mets regained the lead in their next at-bat and never relinquished it, striking out Scherzer in the Mets’ first Opening Day appearance.
Mets’ Max Scherzer pitches against the Marlins in the Mets’ 5-3 Opening Day win.Getty Images
The right-hander became the first pitcher to start an Opening Day game for and against the Mets, facing the Nationals in the 2015 and ’19 openers.
Overall, he lasted six innings and allowed three earned runs on four hits and two walks with six strikeouts.
“Overall, pretty good,” Scherzer said. “I was running pitches all day. I had a little problem there in the sixth, but the guys fought all day. I was getting help from running.”