In another close battle between St. Lucie and Jupiter, it was the Mets coming out on top 3-2 over the Hammerheads on Sunday afternoon at Tradition Field.
Mets starter Kevin McGowan took a no-hitter into the seventh and relievers Ryan Fraser and Paul Sewald worked out of major jams to carry the Mets to the victory.
With the win, the Mets split the four-game series with the Hammerheads. Three of the four games were decided by one run. The only game that wasn’t was a 4-2 win by the Mets in game 2 of Friday’s doubleheader.
The Mets got on the board with two runs in the second inning against Scott Lyman. Albert Cordero hit a solo homer with two outs to start the scoring. Gilbert Gomez followed with a walk and a stolen base. Eudy Pina brought Gomez home with a double.
For a while it looked like a 2-0 lead would be all McGowan needed. He did not give up a hit or a walk in the first six innings. He pitched around three errors in the first (two on himself on a bobble and a bad throw) and a fourth error to start the third.
After the fourth error, McGowan retired the next 12 in a row to get through the sixth.
Blake Barber broke up the no-hitter with a leadoff single in the seventh. Cody Keefer followed with a single to right and Barber moved to third. Then Juan Avila dropped down a bunt single that scored Barber to make it 2-1.
McGowan got a force out that put runners at first and third. He was lifted for Ryan Fraser.
Fraser got a comebacker from Anthony Gomez and caught Keefer between third and home for the second out. After a walk to Luis Sans loaded the bases, Fraser got Ryan Goetz to ground out to short to end the threat with the tying run at third base.
Fraser walked back-to-back batters with one out in the eighth and threw a wild pitch to move runners to second and third. However, he got a line out to center that did not advance runners and Avila grounded out to short on a 3-0 pitch to strand runners and second and third. The Mets retained their 2-1 lead.
In the bottom of the eighth, Gilbert Gomez singled on the infield with the bases loaded and L.J. Mazzilli scored increase the lead to 3-1.
That run proved to be important because the first two Jupiter batters of the ninth singled off of closer Paul Sewald. After a sac bunt moved runners to second and third with one out, Goetz grounded out to second to plate a run and make it 3-2. Anthony Gomez, the tying run, moved to third base with two outs. Sewald then got Noah Perio to ground out to short to end the game.
The Hammerheads stranded the tying run at third base in the final three innings.
It was Sewald’s 11th save in 11 chances.
McGowan picked up his first win since June 30. He allowed just three hits and one run in 6 1/3 innings. He struck out two and did not walk a batter.
Lyman took the loss for Jupiter. He gave up just two runs in five innings. He walked three and struck out seven.
Phil Evans and Gavin Cecchini had two hits apiece for the Mets.
The Mets won the season series over the Hammerheads 12-6.- team press release
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