NewYorkMets.com

TIGERS 5, METS 4
in Port St. Lucie, Fla.
Wednesday, Feb. 28

Tigers at the plate: Ryan Raburn led off the second inning with a home run to left against Oliver Perez. Omar Infante (double) and Sean Casey (sacrifice fly) drove in runs in the first. Curtis Granderson drove in Mike Hessman (double) in the second.

Mets at the plate: The Mets had no hits until Damion Easley singled in the third. Carlos Delgado, whose swing seems finely tuned already, scorched a double in the fourth. Lastings Milledge took a pitch from Zach Miner on his right hand in the sixth, and he remained in the game. A sacrifice fly by David Newhan produced the Mets' first run. It scored Ben Johnson, who had singled. Johnson had a bloop double in the eighth. Designated hitter Julio Franco hit a two-run single, and Newhan had an RBI out for a three-run eighth.

Tigers on the mound: Right-hander Chad Durbin, the starter, retired six of his seven batters. And left-hander Andrew Miller, the Tigers' first pick in the 2006 First-Year Player Draft, struck out four in his two innings.

Mets on the mound: Throwing mostly fastballs, Oliver Perez allowed five hits -- three for extra bases -- and four runs in his two-inning start, and Alay Soler allowed two baserunners in his two innings. Billy Wagner, used early, allowed a run the fifth.

Grapefruit League records: Tigers 1-0; Mets 0-1

Up next: The Mets play the Cardinals in Port St. Lucie at 1:10 p.m. ET on Thursday, with Tom Glavine starting opposite Chris Carpenter. The Tigers play the Phillies at Joker Marchant Stadium in Lakeland, beginning at 1:05 p.m. Mike Maroth and 2006 American League Rookie of the Year Justin Verlander are to pitch for the Tigers. Jamie Moyer will start for the Phillies.