KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Noah Syndergaard struck out nine, walked one and yielded three hits in six innings as the New York Mets topped the Kansas City Royals 2-0 on Tuesday.
Neil Walker hit a two-run homer in the fourth inning for the only runs that Syndergaard and the Mets’ bullpen needed.
The Royals loaded the bases in the sixth against Syndergaard but came away empty when Kendrys Morales struck out on three pitches.
Syndergaard picked up a 9-3 victory in Game 3 of the World Series, holding the Royals to three runs and six hits in six innings.
Jim Henderson and Addison Reed each worked a flawless inning on Tuesday after Syndergaard departed. Jeurys Familia, who blew three saves in the World Series, threw a 1-2-3 ninth for the save.
Alcides Escobar led off the first inning with a triple to right center that rolled to the fence, but the Royals failed to get him home. Syndergaard responded by striking out the next three batters — Mike Moustakas, Lorenzo Cain and Eric Hosmer — to strand Escobar.
Syndergaard, who topped major league rookies with 166 strikeouts last year, struck out five in the first three innings.
Royals right-hander Chris Young, who threw five no-hit innings against the Cleveland Indians on Sept. 27 in his final regular-season start last year, held the Mets hitless until the fourth when he yielded a home run to Walker with Yoenis Cespedes, who had walked, aboard.
Left-hander Danny Duffy replaced Young at the start of the sixth. Young gave up two runs, three hits and three walks while striking out four. He threw 54 strikes in 93 pitches.
After Escobar’s leadoff triple, Syndergaard did not allow another hit until Morales doubled over center fielder Curtis Granderson’s head to start the fifth. Syndergaard responded by striking out Alex Gordon and Salvador Perez and retiring Omar Infante on a weak comebacker.
NOTES: RHP Greg Holland, who remains an unsigned free agent after reconstructive elbow surgery in September, was invited back for the ring ceremony. … The Royals have 11 foreign born players and the Mets have 10. Only the Mariners (13) have more. … Both clubs are off Wednesday and Thursday. The Mets will start RHP Jacob deGrom on Friday for the home opener against the Phillies, but that is tentative with his wife expecting a baby this week in Florida. … Royals RHP Yordano Ventura will start Friday against the Twins, who will counter with LHP Tommy Milone. … Alex Gordon has started nine straight Royals openers, the past six in left field with the first three at third base.