If we go solely on today’s performance, Orlando “El Duque” Hernandez appears to have won the fifth and final spot in the New York Mets’ starting rotation.
Hernandez made the most of his final spring training start, giving up just one earned run and four hits in five innings worth of work.
The other pitcher vying for No. 5, Mike Pelfrey, seemed to be making his case as well, throwing three scoreless innings in relief. But Pelfrey couldn’t close the door in the ninth and wound up giving up three runs to take the loss.
No word yet from Mets’ officials, but that inning could have earned Pelfrey a spot on the AAA New Orleans Zephyrs’ opening day roster.
