Mets Spring Training: Syndergaard, Diaz Struggle With Control Against Houston

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (AP) — The New York Mets hope their hard-throwing pitchers can dominate in the NL East this season.

First, they have a little work to do controlling the strike zone.

Noah Syndergaard walked five over 2 2/3 innings and Edwin Diaz gave out two free passes in his spring debut Saturday, shaky efforts for two of the biggest arms in the sport.

Syndergaard opened by walking Houston’s George Springer on four pitches and was charged with an unearned run when Springer scored on a throwing error by shortstop Danny Espinosa.

“Probably not his best outing ever,” Mets manager Mickey Callaway said. “But when it’s something not typical of a player like that, kind of scattering the ball…