Pitching has been a concern so far this season for the Michigan baseball team, with opponents batting .350 against the 0-6 Wolverines.

So when freshman starting pitcher Alex Lakatos retired Jose Reyes, Luis Castillo and David Wright -- yes, that Jose Reyes, Luis Castillo and David Wright -- in order Sunday afternoon, it was a pretty big deal.

Truth be told, it was a pretty big deal to retire the top of New York Mets batting order no matter the situation.

“It was a great experience to be able to throw against the guys you see on SportsCenter every day,” Lakatos told MGoBlue.com after Michigan lost its annual exhibition game with the Mets by a 7-1 score. “And it was a confidence booster to be able to have some success.”

This is the fourth straight season Michigan has played the Mets, an organization owned by Michigan alumnus Fred Wilpon, at their spring training complex in Port St. Lucie, Fla.

Lakatos took the mound in the bottom of the first inning and said the nerves were high as he prepared to face leadoff hitter Reyes, a three-time All-Star shortstop.

“When he first stepped in and we kind of locked eyes … it was intimidating at first,” Lakatos said. “But it was fun at the same time to compete against guys like that.”

Reyes flew out to right field and Lakatos didn’t allow a hit through two innings, but the Mets rallied for three unearned runs off of him in the third.

Jason Bay's two-run single in the third proved to be the game-winner.

In fact, the Wolverines - who have allowed 57 runs (40 earned) in six games - allowed earned runs to the Mets in just one inning, when they pounced on reliever Matt Gerbe for four runs. Michigan’s five other pitchers (Lakatos, Kyle Clark, Matt Broder, Jake Engels and Ryan Kopf) scattered six hits.

Clark took the mound with two Mets runners on the bases in the fifth inning and struck out the side. He finished with 2.1 scoreless innings, allowing one hit and recording five strikeouts.

The Wolverines had four hits of their own, including an RBI double by John Lorenz in the second inning. (Boxscore) Senior second baseman Anthony Toth had a third inning double, giving him hits in all three games he’s played against the Mets.

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