6/12/12

St. Lucie 3, Charlotte 2

PORT CHARLOTTE -- For the second consecutive day, the Charlotte Stone Crabs and St. Lucie Mets could not determine a winner in the regulation nine. The two clubs needed 12 innings this time around, as the Mets came out on top with a 3-2 victory at Charlotte Sports Park.

With neither team having scored since the sixth, Francisco Pena lifted the Mets to victory with a lead-off home run in the 12th off Nate Garcia (0-2), giving St. Lucie the 3-2 lead. The Stone Crabs mustered a two-out single from Cody Rogers in the bottom half but nothing more as the Mets took the series two games to one.

Enny Romero turned in a superb outing in his first relief appearance of the season. The lefty worked a season-high seven innings and did not allow a hit. He walked four, but struck out six while lowering his ERA to 2.96.

Major League rehabber Kyle Farnsworth took the hill first for the Stone Crabs, making his first appearance in game action since spring training. The Rays reliever opened the season on the 60-day disabled list after suffering a strained right elbow.

Farnsworth tossed a quick first inning after allowing a lead-off single to Alonzo Harris. That baserunner was erased immediately on a double play, as Farnsworth needed just five pitches in a scoreless first.

Just as they did on Sunday, it was Charlotte who got on the board first. Hector Guevara's single was followed by a double from Robi Estrada to set the table. Derek Dietrich plated Guevara with an RBI ground out.

That lead would prove short-lived.

Grayson Garvin returned from the disabled list to make his first appearance since May 30. He entered the game in relief of Farnsworth in the second and allowed a leadoff walk to Cory Vaughn. That walk would come back to haunt him, as after an out and a single Juan Torres pushed a base hit through the left side to plate two and give the Mets a 2-1 lead.

Both teams were kept off the board until the sixth. Guevara opened the frame with his second single of the game, and an errant pick-off attempt from Chase Huchingson allowed Guevara to move to third with nobody out. Estrada then delivered a single to right-center that brought home the tying run.

Guevara finished 2-for-6 on the evening and extended his hitting streak to ten games. Over his past ten games Guevarra is batting .382 with six runs scored.

John Church (2-2) picked up the victory in relief for St. Lucie after tossing a perfect frame in the 11th. Adam Kolarek closed out the game for St. Lucie to earn his 10th save of the season.

from team press release

No comments: