Sewald makes a move for pen spot

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Paul Sewald could leave the Mets with a difficult choice for the final bullpen spot.

As the Mets prepare for the likelihood Jeurys Familia will be suspended following his arrest last offseason on domestic violence charges, the righthanded Sewald is making a claim for that potential opening. Sewald’s primary competition could be Rafael Montero and lefty Josh Edgin.

Sewald fired a scoreless eighth inning in the Mets’ 1-0 exhibition loss to the Nationals on Thursday and lowered his Grapefruit League ERA to 1.59 in nine appearances.

“I felt like I came into spring ready to rock and roll and ready to show them what I can do,” Sewald said. “And come in more game ready than some of our starters who don’t really have to come in trying to make the team.”

Sewald, 26, spent last season at Triple-A Las Vegas, where he made 56 relief appearances and went 5-3 with a 3.29 ERA and 19 saves. ➤ Asdrubal Cabrera was ejected from the game after jawing with plate umpire An

gel Hernandez. The dispute arose over Cabrera asking for time out in the batter’s box but not receiving it.

As he ran to first base on a single later in the at-bat, Cabrera turned his head toward Hernandez, but he said no words were spoken. When he reached first base, Cabrera was ejected.

“I was like, ‘ Come on, you’re better than that,’ ” Cabrera said, noting he never had been ejected from a spring training game.

Only adding to the pageantry, Cabrera had to walk through the outfield to reach the Mets’ clubhouse after he was ejected. Cabrera strolled, halting play until he reached the right-field exit.

“I have to take my time,” Cabrera said. “He threw me out, so there was nothing I could do [in the dugout]. You have to go to right field to come out.”