New York Mets

          Blue Jays 3, Mets 1: Ageless Bartolo Colon fires six scoreless innings

          DUNEDIN, Fla. -- Bartolo Colon tossed six scoreless innings, but the Toronto Blue Jays beat the New York Mets, 3-1, on Wednesday afternoon.

          Former Mets farmhand Ezequiel Carrera, who was traded away in the deal that landed J.J. Putz in Queens in December 2008, delivered a walk-off three-run homer against Buddy Carlyle.

          Patrick Biondi, the Mets’ ninth-round pick in 2013 out of the University of Michigan, had broken a scoreless tie with two outs in the top of the ninth with a solo homer against Roberto Osuna.

          The Mets have lost five straight games to drop to 7-11-2 in Grapefruit League play.

          Colon’s outing marked the longest by a Mets pitcher this spring training. He allowed three hits, including a pair of singles by ex-Met Darrell Ceciliani. Ceciliani was traded to the Blue Jays for cash when the Mets needed to free a 40-man roster spot for the re-signing of Yoenis Cespedes during the offseason.

          Colon also plunked Troy Tulowitzki in the right hand with a pitch in the fourth. Tulowitzki immediately departed the game.

          After an error by second baseman Dilson Herrera in the sixth, Colon struck out Chris Colabello to strand runners on the corners and complete his scoreless outing. Colon rebounded after allowing eight runs on nine hits in five innings against the Washington Nationals in his previous start.

          “Obviously I was happy I was throwing strikes,” Colon said through an interpreter. “I like to think I throw a lot of strikes usually. But there were a lot more today, and with my changeup -- which was something I was really working on.”

          Said manager Terry Collins: “Obviously he's a good pitcher. Early in the year he's the perfect guy, because he pounds the strike zone, and hitters are still kind of feeling their way early in the year. You look up his numbers early in the seasons and they're pretty impressive because he throws a lot of strikes, and I'm not sure guys are really ready to hit.”

          On the day Alex Rodriguez announced his retirement, the 42-year-old Colon said he is taking things “year by year.”

          Said Colon: “You can say the thought has crossed my mind. But as soon as the offseason hits, you just can’t wait to be back. This is my job, and I want to be back at my job, and I want to be with my teammates, because they’re like my family.”

          Blue Jays starter Aaron Sanchez blanked the Mets for 6 1/3 innings. Marc Krauss produced a one-out triple against Sanchez in the second, but Kevin Plawecki grounded out and T.J. Rivera struck out to strand Krauss at third base.

          Ouch: Michael Conforto departed the game with back tightness after striking out in the fourth inning. Conforto suspected a 3½-hour bus ride from Port St. Lucie on Wednesday morning and inadequate pregame preparation time contributed to the flare-up.

          What’s next: The Mets play a pair of games on Thursday. Matt Harvey opposes Houston Astros left-hander Dallas Keuchel at 1:10 p.m. ET in Port St. Lucie (SNY). Logan Verrett starts opposite Boston Red Sox right-hander Joe Kelly at 1:05 p.m. ET in Fort Myers.