PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — Washington ace Stephen Strasburg gave up a single and home run to the first two batters he faced in his return to the mound, and the New York Mets beat the Nationals 5-3 Saturday in a spring training opener.
Kirk Nieuwenhuis led off the Mets’ first inning with a single and Ruben Tejada followed by homering over the left-center field fence on a full count.
Strasburg gave up three hits in two innings. He struck out two and walked none.
Strasburg pitched in a game for the first time since Sept. 7 when the Nationals shut him down for the season, rather than push his innings total.
Mets newcomer Shaun Marcum gave up four hits and three runs in two innings. Top Mets prospect Zack Wheeler pitched two shutout innings.