PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- New York Mets outfielder Chris Young has prided himself on trying to make better contact and not worrying about pulling the ball this spring.

He couldn't help himself Saturday, though.

Young went 2 for 3 and hit his first home run of the spring off Scott Diamond in the bottom of the first inning as a Mets' split squad tied the Minnesota Twins 3-3 in nine innings on Saturday.

"It was a fastball in and I think it's probably the first ball I pulled this spring," said Young, who signed a one-year, $7.25 million dollar deal this offseason. "I just got the barrel there. I had that same type of pitch a few times earlier in spring and I just didn't get the bat there. I'd been fouling it back and today I squared it up."

Young had career lows in most major statistical category with the Oakland A's in 2013, hitting only .200 with 12 home runs and 40 RBIs.

He's hitting .290 this spring with three doubles and two RBIs and has at least one hit in each of his last four games.

Daniel Murphy and Josh Satin had RBIs for the Mets. Eduardo Escobar had a two-run single for the Twins.

Diamond gave up two runs in 3 2/3 innings. He allowed three hits, walked three and struck out six.

 

Scott Diamond, Minnesota Twins
Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images
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