Twins Tie Mets At 3-3

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (AP) — New York Mets outfielder Chris Young has prided himself on trying to make better contact and not worrying about pulling the ball this spring.

He couldn't help himself Saturday, though.

Young went 2 for 3 and hit his first home run of the spring off Scott Diamond in the bottom of the first inning as a Mets' split squad tied the Minnesota Twins 3-3 in nine innings on Saturday.

"It was a fastball in and I think it's probably the first ball I pulled this spring," said Young, who signed a one-year, $7.25 million dollar deal this offseason. "I just got the barrel there. I had that same type of pitch a few times earlier in spring and I just didn't get the bat there. I'd been fouling it back and today I squared it up.

Daniel Murphy and Josh Satin had RBIs for the Mets. Eduardo Escobar had a two-run single for the Twins.

Twins starter Scott Diamond gave up two runs in 3 2-3 innings. He allowed three hits, walked three and struck out six.

"I guess we're busting loose," Diamond said of the strikeouts. "I think I just missed some bats in some key counts. Other than those three walks which is really what's still eating me. I found I was able to get ahead of most guys and staying ahead.

"Curveball was really working well for me today. I think that's a really good sign given that it's probably been the last pitch to come back since 2012."

Twins shortstop Pedro Florimon was off Saturday and is scheduled to play five innings in a minor league game Sunday. Florimon had his appendix taken out on Feb. 17 and saw his first game action in a minor league game Friday.

"He's going to play five innings tomorrow in a minor league game and if he gets through that one, which I believe he will, then he's going to be full bore after that," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. "He'll be back with us after that."