MLB

Battle for 1B heats up as both Davis, Duda have big game

FORT MYERS, Fla. — Ike Davis and Lucas Duda might as well have been two kids in the schoolyard trying to best each other on Friday.

The Mets were the beneficiary. Davis went 3-for-3 with two RBIs in his second game since returning to Grapefruit League action, and Duda, playing for the first time since March 2, slammed a two-run homer in the Mets’ 9-1 exhibition victory over the Twins.

One of the two will emerge as the starting first baseman by the time the Mets conclude their exhibition season next Saturday in Montreal.

“Just go out there and play and let the chips fall where they may,” said Duda, who had been sidelined with a strained left hamstring.

Duda played five innings at first base and Davis served as DH. The plan on Saturday is for Davis to play first base against the Marlins. Both would play first base on Sunday — the Mets have a split-squad game. Davis hadn’t played since March 2 before returning to the lineup on Thursday at first base.

If there were any lingering concerns about Duda’s hamstring, they eased when the lumbering Duda scored easily from first base on Davis’ RBI double in the first inning.

“I want us both to play,” Davis said. “But obviously there is only one spot. Duda is a friend of mine and I always hope he does real well.”

Manager Terry Collins cautioned that any decision reached on the first-base job heading into the opener isn’t necessarily permanent.

“If somebody gets off to a slow start, we’re going to make a change,” Collins said. “We said we’re going to win baseball games. We’ve got to get out of the gate, get out of it on a positive note, and if somebody slumps we’ve got somebody behind him.”


Collins expects to have Daniel Murphy back in the lineup on Saturday against the Marlins. Murphy hasn’t played since last Sunday because of soreness in his right calf.


Bobby Parnell and Jose Valverde remained in Port St. Lucie to face minor league competition. In two innings Parnell allowed one hit and struck out two. Valverde pitched a perfect inning.