KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Perhaps the doom and gloom about David Wright's career should be shelved.

After a disappointing opener, Wright reached base three times and stole two bases in a game for the first time since 2013 as the New York Mets beat the Kansas City Royals, 2-0, on Tuesday.

Wright had gone 0-for-4 with two strikeouts and had a pair of late throws to first base on Opening Day.

"I don't care," Wright said when asked about the criticism of his game on Sunday.

Wright said he was encouraged Tuesday that his back felt well enough that he could just play instinctively.

"It feels good to just kind of play 'reactionary,'" he said. "That's the goal -- to just go out there and play the way I've always played."

Said manager Terry Collins: "It shows you that he's still a baseball player. He pays attention. He realizes the [pitcher's delivery] times to the plate were in his favor and he took advantage of them."

Since the Mets do not have a ton of team speed, Collins added that it's important for the Mets to be extra smart on the base paths, as Wright was on Tuesday.

"We are not a real fast team, but what we try to do is pick spots," Collins said. "I think [first-base coach] Tommy Goodwin is as good as anyone in the game about telling runners now is a good time. He pays attention. He pays attention to the middle infielders. Are they on their heels? Are they paying any attention to the guy at first base? I think we've got to stay aggressive. No matter who we face, we've got to try to disrupt the rhythm of the pitcher."