KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The Kansas City Royals did not seek revenge with any purpose pitches. They did not unleash any vengeance with their bats on Tuesday, either.
After Alcides Escobar’s leadoff triple in the first inning, Noah Syndergaard retired the next dozen Royals batters. And behind a two-run homer from Neil Walker, the New York Mets went on to beat Kansas City 2-0 at Kauffman Stadium to earn a split of the season-opening two-game series.
Jeurys Familia, who blew three saves during the World Series, exorcised some demons by recording the final three outs of this rematch.
Syndergaard rose to the occasion with big strikeouts whenever he faced a baserunner in scoring position. He ultimately tossed six scoreless innings, striking out nine. He allowed three hits and one walk in a 92-pitch effort.
After Escobar’s first-inning triple, Syndergaard consecutively struck out Mike Moustakas, Lorenzo Cain and Eric Hosmer. When Kendrys Morales had a leadoff double in the fifth, Syndergaard struck out Alex Gordon and Salvador Perez and retired Omar Infante on a weak comebacker. And when the Royals loaded the bases in the sixth thanks in part to a pair of Mets failures to turn double plays, Syndergaard struck out Morales on three pitches.
Syndergaard got six strikeouts with his slider. He had 11 all of last season with that pitch.
The Royals had been the hardest to strike out in the majors last season by a wide margin. They fanned only 973 times in 2015. The Atlanta Braves had the second-fewest K's with 1,107.
Syndergaard had irked the Royals during Game 3 of the World Series by sending a game-opening fastball whizzing past Escobar and to the backstop. There was no retribution sought Tuesday with MLB commissioner Rob Manfred in attendance.
Syndergaard had been booed when he took the mound in the first inning. But Mets manager Terry Collins had predicted Syndergaard would not be intimidated.
"He’s not afraid. He’s 6-7, 250,” Collins said. “They don't have much fear, those kind of guys.”
Lightheartedly reminded that Syndergaard wore a helmet when he rode Yoenis Cespedes' horse at the Mets' complex during spring training, Collins said: "But the horse weighs 2,000 pounds. He was the only bigger animal on the field at the time."
Welcome back: Former Milwaukee Brewers closer Jim Henderson made his first major league appearance since May 1, 2014. Taking over for Syndergaard for the bottom of the seventh, Henderson touched 96 mph while tossing a perfect frame that included two strikeouts. Henderson underwent his second shoulder surgery on Aug. 19, 2014 and had been fighting to return to the majors. He beat out Erik Goeddel for a bullpen spot.
It’s a first: A day after Daniel Murphy went deep in his Washington Nationals debut, Walker delivered his first home run as a Met. Walker's two-run shot with one out in the fourth inning staked the Mets to a 2-0 lead. It was the first hit surrendered by ex-Met Chris Young, who had allowed three baserunners via walk to that point.
Not dead yet: Some columnists buried David Wright after his lackluster opener, believing the 33-year-old captain was compromised as a result of last year's spinal stenosis. Well, Wright showed he still has some mobility remaining with his first two-steal game since June 25, 2013. He finished 1-for-3 with two walks.
What's next: The Mets have a pair of days off before Friday's 1:10 p.m. ET home opener against the Philadelphia Phillies. Baby-birth permitting, Jacob deGrom opposes right-hander Jerad Eickhoff. Steven Matz and Bartolo Colon are on standby for the assignment if deGrom needs to head to Florida to be with wife Stacey.
The Mets will work out Thursday at Citi Field.
As for Friday's pregame ceremony, Rusty Staub, John Franco and Edgardo Alfonzo will participate in the raising of a National League pennant banner. Cast members from Broadway's "Hamilton" will perform the national anthem, with an NYPD helicopter flyover to follow.
