PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — The Houston Astros demonstrated Friday what the rest of the league knows and the Mets realize themselves, but haven’t been able to fix.

Teams can run successfully on the battery of opening-day pitcher Noah Syndergaard and catcher Travis d’Arnaud – almost seemingly at will.

Red Sox pitcher Drew Pomeranz allowed three runs in four innings against the Blue Jays on Friday, but said his mechanics felt better after the second. Associated Press/Chris O'Meara

The Astros were a perfect 4 for 4 in stolen bases in their 2-0 win at First Data Field on Friday in the right-hander’s fourth start of the spring: three by Derek Fisher, the other by fellow outfielder Jake Marisnick.

Syndergaard said he felt his delivery times to home plate were good, in the 1.35-second range, while Collins praised him for a couple of sub 1.3s.

“I felt good out there. I felt like my times were where they needed to be,” said Syndergaard after his 73-pitch effort. “Sometimes I’m mixing in a slide step as well.

“I feel really confident in controlling the runners, to control the runners and still deliver a quality pitch to home plate.”

The numbers say otherwise.

Last season, Syndergaard won most of the head-to-head battles at the plate as the tall right-hander held hitters to a .243 batting average. However, the advantage swung to the other side somewhat when baserunners started taking off during Syndergaard’s delivery.

Base stealers were successful in 48 of 57 attempts against Syndergaard in 2016. In 2015, his rookie season, he watched 16 runners attempt to swipe the next base and only get nabbed once.

That’s 63 of 73, an 86 percent success rate.

Collins said d’Arnaud’s arm strength and velocity are where they need to be. However, his delivery needs to quicken to help slow down the running game.

“I like his arm stroke better than last year. I think he’s made huge improvements in it. We’ve just got to get him to speed it up,” Collins said of d’Arnaud, who hasn’t thrown out a baserunner this spring.

RED SOX: Drew Pomeranz allowed three runs and five hits in the first two innings but settled down to complete four innings in Boston’s 3-2 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays.

The left-hander, making his third start of the spring, told reporters afterward that he felt his mechanics “clicked” while warming up for the third inning. He faced only six hitters in the third and fourth, wiping out a walk with a double play. Pomeranz is likely to make his regular-season debut at Detroit on April 9.

The Blue Jays got an RBI double from Jose Bautista in the first inning and two runs in the second on a double by Devon Travis – making his spring debut after a knee injury – and a single by Troy Tulowitzki.

Bryce Brentz hit a two-run homer in the fifth for Boston.

TIGERS: Right fielder J.D. Martinez is expected to miss the beginning of the season because of a right foot injury. He sprained his foot last weekend, and Manager Brad Ausmus said he is expected to be out three to four weeks.

INDIANS: Outfielder Lonnie Chisenhall left a game against the Cubs after an injury in the second inning.

Chisenhall hit the right-field wall while trying to track down a long fly ball. He was shaken up but was able to get to his feet.

A trainer and Manager Terry Francona came out to check on Chisenhall, who motioned toward his left shoulder a couple times as he walked off the field.

WHITE SOX: The team scratched Carlos Rodon from his spring start because of left biceps tightness, and General Manager Rick Hahn said the left-hander likely would begin the season on the disabled list.

ROCKIES: Hard-throwing righty Jon Gray left his start in the third inning because of soreness in his left foot. The team said it was for precautionary reasons.

Gray gave up five runs in 22/3 innings in the 6-5 win over San Francisco. He could be the team’s starter when the season opens April 3 in Milwaukee.

Related Stories