J.D. Martinez’s stellar debut can’t keep Mets from falling to Cardinals
NY Post
Perhaps the addition of J.D. Martinez will prove to be a game-changer for the Mets over the course of a long season.
He couldn’t change his first game, though.
Martinez made a solid debut and drilled his first few hits with his new team, but he could not flip a switch for a Mets offense that was mostly turned off — going 2-for-11 with runners in scoring position and leaving five on base — in a 4-2 loss to open a series with the Cardinals in front of 24,159 in Citi Field on Friday night.
The Mets (13-12) dropped the first game of a seven-game homestand mostly because Jose Butto missed with location a few times and the Mets’ offense continually missed in important moments.
Martinez, who didn’t sign until deep into spring training and had to build up his body and his swing, looked ready to help but should not be seen as an immediate savior, partly because he doesn’t pitch.
Butto was up and down — actually, first down then up — while allowing four runs on four hits and three walks in 5 ²/₃ innings.