PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla — Former Mets outfielder Chris Young hit a three-run homer, helping the Boston Red Sox beat the New York Mets 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.

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“I felt really good. I was able to locate my pitches for strikes,” 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 reliever Antonio Bastardo in the eighth and two more in the ninth.

When asked about Sunday’s pitching order, Red Sox Manager John Farrell replied, “Johnny Wholestaff.” With inclement weather forecast, the club decided against bringing over slated starter 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.

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.

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YANKEES: Jacoby Ellsbury is out until at least Thursday because of an injured right wrist.

Manager Joe Girardi says that’s the earliest he would expect Ellsbury to play again. Ellsbury underwent treatment Sunday, a day after being hit by a fastball from Atlanta’s Julio Teheran.

 Ivan Nova pitched into the fifth inning before Joe Mauer’s two-run single finished him, and New York beat Minnesota Twins 6-4. Nova went 41/3 innings, giving up four runs on five hits and three walks.

WHITE SOX: Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf said he has “complete faith” in his team’s front office in the aftermath of the Adam LaRoche flap.

LaRoche left the team earlier this week after being told by executive Kenny Williams to cut down his 14-year-old son’s clubhouse access.

ANGELS: Chone Figgins, a 38-year-old utility player, will retire Monday after signing a one-day contract with Los Angeles.

PHILLIES: Jeremy Hellickson threw five hitless innings and Cesar Hernandez drove in three runs in Philadelphia’s 5-4 win against the Astros.


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