PORT ST. LUCIE — Mets starter Jon Niese gave up two runs on five hits and a walk in six innings in a 3-2 loss to the Nationals on Wednesday.
“I used all my pitches and just pounded the zone with them,” Niese said. “That’s been my main focus this year.”
Niese struck out six.
“It was a very, very good outing,” Terry Collins said. “I think one of the things he did today was he used his changeup a lot more first pitch just to get used to throwing it. He’s had a great spring. I expect a huge year.”
The Mets scored in the seventh when Lucas Duda tripled to drive in Jason Bay, who returned to the lineup after sitting out two games with a bruised hand when he was hit by a pitch Sunday against the Nationals.
Scott Hairston went 0 for 3 in his spring training debut after recovering from a strained oblique muscle.
“I don’t think he’s going to need a lot of at-bats to get his rhythm and timing going, so we are going to run him in there the best we can,” Collins said. “I think he’s going to get some minor league at-bats also. He’s a pretty easy fixture. He’s a veteran guy, knows exactly what it takes and will keep himself ready to go.”
Jordan Zimmermann pitched six shutout innings and Jayson Werth hit his fourth home run of the spring for the Nationals.
Werth led off the fourth inning with a shot over the left-field wall to help back Zimmermann’s best start of the spring. The right-hander allowed two hits, struck out two and didn’t walk a batter.