JUPITER, Fla. — Jason Vargas was rolling, on his way to another spring training gem Saturday, when the fifth inning arrived at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium.
The Mets left-hander never recorded another out against the Marlins, and finished with an unsightly pitching line: four-plus innings, four earned runs allowed on five hits and two walks. It was Vargas’ first setback of the exhibition season after he entered play with a 1.08 ERA.
“He got toward the peak of his pitch count and the last three or four pitches cost him some runs, but other than that he was tremendous,” manager Mickey Callaway said after the Mets’ 11-6 loss.