Syndergaard K’s seven straight

Marlins to honor Fernandez, Ramirez with stadium plaques

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Noah Syndergaard’s display of dominance, even in a spring training setting, was something to behold: seven consecutive strikeouts of the Nationals to wrap his 3⅓ scoreless innings Thursday in the Mets’ 8-5 loss.

Jose Marmolejos swinging, Moises Sierra swinging, Brian Goodwin swinging. That was the second, after consecutive batters reached to open the inning. Then came the big-league standouts in the third: Trea Turner looking, Bryce Harper swinging, Anthony Rendon looking. Syndergaard began the fourth, getting Matt Adams looking, before manager Mickey Callaway decided 63 pitches (39 strikes) was enough for Syndergaard’s third spring training start.

The line: two hits, two walks, no runs, seven strikeouts. Syndergaard’s ERA this year is 1.08, his WHIP 0.72.

“Today was a step in the right direction,” Syndergaard said. “I wouldn’t say I’m in midseason form yet.”

Added catcher Kevin Plawecki: “I honestly don’t think he had his best stuff today, but he made the most of what he had.”

MARLINS: All-Star pitcher Jose Fernandez and Hall of Fame radio announcer Rafael “Felo” Ramirez will be honored by the Miami Marlins with plaques on the plaza at Marlins Park.

Fernandez died in a boat crash in September 2016. Ramirez died at 94 in August.

JUDGE: Yankees slugger Aaron Judge is strongly leaning toward not taking part in the Home Run Derby at this year’s All-Star Game.

Judge won the derby last season in Miami, went on to hit 52 homers with 114 RBIs in his first full major league season and was a unanimous pick as AL Rookie of the Year,

“A cool experience,” Judge said Thursday. “I enjoyed it all, but I don’t think I really needed to go out there and do it again. I won it once. One and done is good for me.”

ASTROS: Houston has renewed the contract of shortstop Carlos Correa for the second straight year and also renewed third baseman Alex Bregman.

Bregman, an Albuquerque Academy alumnus, was renewed at $599,000 in the major leagues and $269,700 in the minors, up from $539,400/$97,063 last year.

ROYALS: A person familiar with the negotiations tells The Associated Press that Mike Moustakas and Kansas City have agreed to a one-year contract that keeps him with the Royals and guarantees the third baseman $6.5 million.

The deal could be worth up to $22.7 million over two seasons, the person said Thursday, speaking on condition of anonymity because the agreement was subject to a successful physical.