Young homers against former team, helps Red Sox beat Mets

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (AP) Former Mets outfielder Chris Young hit a three-run homer, helping the Boston Red Sox beat New York 9-4 Sunday.

Young connected in the sixth inning off reliever Jerry Blevins. Mets starter Noah Syndergaard gave up two runs in five innings.

The Mets got three runs in the fourth following a bout of wildness by Boston reliever Carlos Marmol, a double steal that plated Juan Lagares and an RBI single by David Wright on a hard grounder off the pitcher's glove.

Young hit just .205 with eight homers in 88 games and was designated for assignment in August of 2014 by the Mets. New York had signed him to a one-year deal.

''You have good at-bats and bad at-bats in spring training,'' said Young, ''but (playing the Mets) is just another game. I've been to so many places that you'd be an emotional wreck if you focused on playing against a former team.''

Syndergaard said he accomplished what he wanted to get done in his outing but added that he would like to be a little quicker to home plate.

''I felt really good. I was able to locate my pitches for strikes. All in all, I'm very pleased with today,'' he said.

Boston shortstop Xander Bogaerts lined a double and scored in the fourth after left fielder Juan Lagares misplayed Travis Shaw's single to give the Red Sox a 1-0 lead.

Brock Holt had a sacrifice fly to cut New York's lead to 3-2.

Boston added a pair of runs off Mets reliever Antonio Bastardo in the eighth and two more in the ninth.

STARTING TIME

Red Sox: When asked about Sunday's pitching order, manager John Farrell replied, ''Johnny Wholestaff.'' With inclement weather forecast, the club decided against bringing over slated starter LHP David Price, who pitched in an in-camp game instead in Fort Myers, and used multiple relievers. Prospect Heath Hembree worked two scoreless frames to open the game.

Mets: Syndergaard struck out five and didn't issue a walk, though he did give up six hits in five innings in his third spring start. He overpowered the Red Sox early, occasionally touching 98 mph on the radar gun.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Red Sox: Farrell said LHP Eduardo Rodriguez (dislocated knee) is ''coming along good.'' Rodriguez went through the normal throwing program Sunday and will pitch a bullpen session Monday. ''He's in what we would determine as just a bullpen phase right now. He's got to throw BP and ultimately get to games. He's got spring training yet to go throw,'' Farrell added.

Mets: RHP Erik Goeddel (lat strain) threw 14 pitches and retired all three batters he faced in a morning minor-league game. LHP Josh Edgin (Tommy John surgery) pitched for the first time in a year and said, ''It was pretty nice. I had a lot of adrenaline going...I didn't sleep very well last night; I was pretty pumped up.''

UP NEXT

Red Sox: Boston travels south Monday to play the first of two games over two days in Jupiter. RHP Clay Buchholz will start against St. Louis LHP Marco Gonzales.

Mets: RHP Jacob deGrom will start Monday against Miami RHP Jarred Cosart at Tradition Field.

JUST VISITING

MLB Network and host Heidi Watney were at Tradition Field taking in their fifth of seven stops as they profile the Grapefruit League clubs. ''I know everyone says, `Arizona's spring training's better because you can stay in one hotel and the farthest team is 45 minutes away,' but we've been doing different cities and different teams every day all over Florida.'' The network's final stop is in Jupiter for the Cardinals and Marlins.