Mets Syndergaard continues good spring in 5-5 tie with Cards

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (AP) Mets starter Noah Syndergaard continued his outstanding spring, with six solid innings, and New York scored a run in the bottom of the ninth inning to salvage a 5-5 tie on Friday.

Jeurys Familia allowed four hits - including a home run to Randal Grichuk, walked two and retired only one batter as the Cardinals scored three in the top of the ninth.

Mets manager Terry Collins said the long 2015 season and playoffs may still be taking a toll on Familia, but the closer disagreed.

''My arm is 100 percent,'' Familia said. ''Today is one of those days, everyone can have that pitching. Tomorrow is a new day.

''I don't have any excuse. I left my sinker over the plate, in the middle, too, and they made good swings.''

Syndergaard gave up two runs and five hits and struck out nine. Syndergaard has 19 strikeouts and only one walk in four starts this spring.

''I'm very pleased with how my spring training has been going,'' Syndergaard said. ''I had a pretty productive offseason and, like I've said before, I've kind of shocked myself a little bit with how good I've been feeling and how in sync my mechanics have been.''

Matt Adams was 2 for 4 with a double and an RBI and Ruben Tejada, who was released by the Mets last week, had a pair of singles for the Cardinals.

St. Louis starter Michael Wacha allowed eight hits and two runs in 4 2/3 innings.

Wilmer Flores had two hits, including a double, and scored two runs and Neil Walker singled twice for the Mets.

STARTING TIME

Cardinals: Wacha has given up 23 hits in 12 2/3 innings this spring, but manager Mike Matheny didn't seem too concerned.

''I think he's been throwing the ball well,'' Matheny said. ''I like where he is. I think he's had a couple outings where he's been up a little more than what he'd like to be. I think it's just a matter of getting his timing.''

Mets: Syndergaard said his slider Friday was the best it has been all spring.

''I felt like I could throw it any time, in any count and either get a swing and a miss out of it, out of the zone, or be able to mix one in for a first pitch strike and try to induce a ground ball,'' Syndergaard said.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Mets: First baseman Lucas Duda was given Friday off because of a stiff neck. ... Shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera (knee) ran and took 11 at-bats on the minor league side. He is scheduled to hit in a minor league game Saturday and play in a Grapefruit League game Sunday. ... Left fielder Michael Conforto (back) is scheduled to play Saturday, but Collins said it depends how Conforto feels in the morning.

GANGS ALL HERE

With the Cardinals having just two of their final seven Grapefruit League games away from Jupiter, Matheny opted to bring the entire squad on the trip to Port St. Lucie.

''It's kind of the process of spring training,'' he said. ''Get toward the end, we'll be down here another week, and it's time we take everybody with us.''

ROSTER MOVES

The Mets released veteran reliever Buddy Carlyle on Friday and reassigned Roger Bernadina, Ty Kelly, Danny Muno, and T.J. Rivera to minor league camp.

UP NEXT

Cardinals: RHP Mike Leake will start against the Washington Nationals on Saturday in Jupiter. RHP Joe Ross is scheduled to start for the Nationals.

Mets: RHP Jacob deGrom starts for New York against RHP Bud Norris and the Atlanta Braves in Lake Buena Vista.