ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) -- Anthony Recker hit a grand slam with two outs in the ninth inning and the New York Mets pulled out a 4-4 tie against the Texas Rangers on Saturday in the final exhibition game for both teams.
Shin-Soo Choo had hits in both of his at-bats for Texas and minor league outfielder Nick Williams scored from second base on an infield single for the Rangers. They won only two of their last 20 games and finished 9-19-5 in their first spring under new manager Jeff Banister.
Mets right-hander Dillon Gee allowed two runs with four strikeouts over 4 2-3 innings in his final tune-up for the regular season.
The Mets had two outs with nobody on in the ninth before reliever Andrew Faulkner gave up a single and walked two. Hard-throwing reliever Jesus Pirela came on and surrendered the homer, Recker's first of the spring.
Texas managed only an infield single in the ninth off Zack Thornton before the game was declared a tie.
New York finished the spring 19-12-2.
Chi Chi Gonzalez, one of the Rangers' top pitching prospects and their 2013 first-round pick, struck out eight with one walk in five scoreless innings after starters Ross Detwiler and Nick Martinez each threw their scheduled inning. Gonzalez will start the season at Triple-A Round Rock.
Ryan Rua, who this spring won the job as the Rangers' starting left fielder, led off the fourth by lining a double over the head of minor league center fielder Darrell Ceciliani. Williams replaced Rua as a pinch-runner and scored to make it 1-0 when utility infielder Adam Rosales reached on a single to deep short.
Choo bunted for a hit in the first inning, and added another single in the third, but hit only .205 (9 of 44) this spring. Choo played 123 games last season, his first in Texas, but had operations late for a bone spur in his left elbow and torn cartilage in his left ankle.
None of the expected everyday starters who played Saturday were in past the fourth inning for either team.
STARTING TIME
Mets: Gee walked two and finished with a 2.73 ERA in his eight appearances this spring.
Rangers: Detwiler, a reliever for Washington last season, allowed a hit with a strikeout in his one inning. The left-hander is scheduled to start Wednesday at Oakland.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Mets: New York plans to put pitchers Zack Wheeler, Bobby Parnell, Vic Black and Josh Edgin on the 15-day disabled list Sunday. All those moves will be retroactive to March 27. ... 2B Daniel Murphy, who remained in Florida because of a strained right hamstring, was 0 for 5 and played in the field for four innings in a minor league camp game. He is expected to open the season with the Mets.
Rangers: Banister was sent home before the game with flu-like symptoms. He was expected to meet the team Sunday in Oakland, where the Rangers open the season Monday against the Athletics. The team traveled to the West Coast after Saturday's game.
UP NEXT
Mets: New York opens its regular season Monday at Washington.
Rangers: Texas plays its regular-season opener Monday night at Oakland.
