PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- Curtis Granderson slugged two homers and Zack Wheeler contributed three scoreless innings as the Mets beat the Houston Astros, 6-2, Tuesday at Tradition Field.
“I hope to see 25 more of those when the bell rings,” Terry Collins said about Granderson’s long balls.
Houston starter Rudy Owens recorded only one out before being chased seven batters into the game with the bases loaded.
Eric Young Jr., making his first 2014 Grapefruit League start after dealing with a side-muscle injury last week, walked to open the first. Chris Young then produced an RBI double and Granderson launched a two-run homer.
After Brandon Allen flied out, Josh Satin walked, Travis d’Arnaud singled and Taylor Teagarden walked.
Jorge De Leon entered and stranded the bases loaded. But De Leon surrendered a solo homer to Granderson in the second inning as the Mets took a 4-0 lead.
Houston sliced the lead in half on a two-run homer by Jonathan Villar against Erik Goeddel in the fifth.
2011 first-round pick Brandon Nimmo contributed an RBI single in the sixth for a 5-2 lead.
A half-inning later, Vic Black walked three to load the bases with two outs. But Jeff Walters, who had 38 saves last season with Double-A Binghamton, entered and retired Leo Heras on the first pitch to strand all three.
Walters then tossed a no-hit eighth.
The Mets’ final run came on Allen’s eighth-inning single against Stony Brook University product Nick Tropeano, a fifth-round pick in 2011.
What’s next: The Mets play two Wednesday. Fifth-starter candidate Jenrry Mejia starts a split-squad game in Viera against the Washington Nationals. Meanwhile, the Miami Marlins visit Port St. Lucie, with Dillon Gee opposing phenom Jose Fernandez.
