Bodog Beat

Johan Santana looked vulnerable in his first start of spring training. (AP Images)

Cue the panic.

Each season the Mets add at least one big name to the roster and each season since 1986 has ended without a World Series title. This year is supposed to be different because of the man who took the mound on Friday.

Johan Santana pitched his first game as a Met but looked brutal, making New York’s title hopes look very fragile. Acquired by the Twins in a mega-deal in the offseason, Santana surrendered a three-run home run to Juan Gonzalez as the St. Louis Cardinals won, 5-4, in an exhibition game in Port St. Lucie, Fla.

Santana, a two-time American League Cy Young winner, was hit hard. After taking to the mound to a standing ovation by his teammates and fans, he gave up a triple to Brendan Ryan and a double to Albert Pujols among his 30 pitches.

Underdog St. Louis paid +120 on the spring training moneyline.

"I was rushing my delivery a little and they were aggressive swinging right away," Santana said. "We threw a lot of first pitches for strikes. I threw a couple of fastballs that stayed up in the strike zone.

"There are a lot of adjustments I've got to make. It's going to take some time, but that's what we're here for."

Santana went two innings, allowing four hits and three earned runs. Later in the game, the Mets got more bad news as Pujols went deep on Duaner Sanchez, a key to the pitching staff. Sanchez was injured in a taxi accident in July 2006 and this was his first game appearance since then.

The Mets’ World Series odds are 9/2, leaving them as a second choice behind the favored Boston Red Sox (4/1). The Cardinals are 45/1 long shots.

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