The St. Lucie Mets scored three runs in the top of the 14th inning to steal the series finale 4-1 from the Jupiter Hammerheads Sunday night at Roger Dean Stadium.
The Mets scored the go-ahead run thanks to a throwing error on the catcher-the same play that forced extra innings.
With the Hammerheads leading 1-0 in the top of the eighth, Mets' catcher Cam Maron singled with one out. Two wild pitches by reliever Joe O'Gara allowed Maron to advance to third. Trying to throw out Maron on his way to third, Hammerheads' catcher Wilfredo Gimenez airmailed the attempt into the home bullpen, allowing Maron to score and tie the game at one.
Still tied at one in the top of the 14th and with runners at first and second, Jupiter reliever Tyler Higgins sailed a pickoff attempt into center field, allowing the runners to move up 90 feet. After an intentional walk to load the bases with nobody out, Charley Thurber grounded into a force out at first base. What looked like an easy 3-2-3 double-play turned into a costly mistake when Gimenez short-hopped the throw back to first, which bounced into the first base bullpen.
The Mets took their first lead of the game on that play-their second run scored on a catcher's throwing error. A pair of RBI singles by Robbie Shields and Maron added two runs to the lead, giving St. Lucie a 4-1 cushion heading into the bottom of the 14th.
RHP Chasen Bradford-the losing pitcher in game one of the series-pitched a 1-2-3 inning for his third save of the season.
The Hammerheads stranded base runners in the eighth, ninth, 10th, 11th and 12th innings and finished 1-for-10 with runners in scoring position.
Lost in defeat was the brilliant pitching performance by Florida State League All-Star Anthony DeSclafani. The right-hander tossed six scoreless innings of two-hit ball, striking out nine-six of them looking. He carried a no-hitter into the fifth, and struck out five of the last six batters he faced.
After 12 starts, DeSclafani boasts a 1.67 ERA, third-best among qualified starting pitchers in the Florida State League.
Three Hammerheads relievers-O'Gara, RHP Kevin Cravey and RHP Ron Barnes-combined to throw seven five-hit innings, allowing just one unearned.
Isaac Galloway and Brent Keys had three hits each for Jupiter. Galloway stole two bases (his 19th and 20th) and Keys stole his sixth.
The trio of Major League rehab players-Giancarlo Stanton, Donovan Solano and Joe Mahoney-combined to go 0-for-10 in the loss.
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