Mets starting pitcher Zack Wheeler took the hill for the first time this spring Monday against the Marlins, and when the dust settled he finished the afternoon sporting a 32.40 ERA.
Wheeler's outing got off to a great start, as he retired the side in order in the first inning on 10 pitches. He even had a strikeout of Derek Dietrich.
However, it quickly unraveled for Wheeler in the second inning. He had two strikeouts within the first four batters he faced, but he loaded the bases before Reid Brignac and Jordany Valdespin had run-scoring singles. Wheeler faced one more batter before he was lifted for a reliever.
Wheeler was charged with six runs on two hits, two walks and two hit batters in 1 1/2 innings. He struck out three.
"I was happy with the outing overall," he said, per NJ.com. "I did hit two batters and walk a couple but it's still early. Fastball command was a little off.
"I was trying to go in a lot but it was taking off on me a little bit. I was having a hard time throwing down in the zone with my fastball."