SCORE: Mets 8, Red Sox 7
RECORD: 5-7-1
BREAKDOWN: The Red Sox took a 4-1 lead with four runs in the top of the fourth inning off lefthander P.J. Conlon. Two walks, a ground-rule double by Allen Craig, an RBI single by Rusney Castillo, who also was in front of a double steal, and an RBI double by Marco Hernandez contributed to the inning, as did an error by third baseman L.J. Mazzilli. Sox starter Rick Porcello allowed four runs on five hits in three-plus innings. Jay Bruce homered with Yoenis Cespedes aboard in the fourth off Porcello. The Mets tied it, 4-4, with three runs in the fourth, and added a run in the fifth and three more in the sixth off Brian Johnson. Craig belted a two-run homer in the seventh to cut the margin to 8-6, and the Sox scored a run in the ninth, but it wasn’t enough.
THUMBS UP: Castillo continues to have a strong spring with an RBI single and the stolen base. He’s hitting .467 . . . Craig doubled and homered and continues to swing a good bat. He’s up to .294 . . . Bryce Brentz had a good day at the plate, going 2 for 3 with an RBI.
THUMBS DOWN: Brentz got caught between second and third on Christian Vazquez’s tapper back to the pitcher and was tagged out in a rundown . . . Second baseman Deven Marrero was charged with an error when he tried a backhanded scoop rather than get in front of the ball . . . Left fielder Andrew Benintendi threw to the wrong base in what was described as a communication error by manager John Farrell . . . The Red Sox were 3 for 14 with runners in scoring position.
MEDICAL REPORT: Porcello took a one-hopper hit by Cespedes off his right hand but stayed in the game. After allowing a two-run homer to Jay Bruce and a double to Lucas Duda, Farrell pulled him. After the game, Porcello said he was fine.
AROUND THE HORN: Rich Gedman playing catch with Jason Varitek made for an interesting scene. A man who caught Roger Clemens with a man who caught Pedro Martinez . . . Gedman, who will be the hitting coach at Triple A Pawtucket, was Boston’s first base coach on Wednesday . . . There were 6,538 at First Data Field, a sellout.
NEXT GAME: The Red Sox play Team USA at JetBlue Park Thursday at 1:05 p.m. Roenis Elias gets the start for Boston. Also scheduled to pitch are Robbie Ross Jr., Craig Kimbrel, Heath Hembree, Robby Scott, Kyle Martin, and Luis Ysla.
Nick Cafardo
Nick Cafardo can be reached at cafardo@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @nickcafardo.
