Bradenton 7 - St. Lucie 6

BRADENTON, Fla. (April 8, 2018) – Tyler Gaffney was plunked on the elbow by a Stephen Nogosek pitch with the bases loaded in the 10^th inning to force home the winning run in the Bradenton Marauders 7-6 win over the St. Lucie Mets on Sunday at LECOM Park.

The Marauders appeared to have the game in hand when they scored four runs in the eighth and took a 5-1 lead to the ninth. However, the Mets rallied for four runs in the top of the ninth to force extra innings.

Desmond Lindsay and Dash Winningham both hit RBI singles with two strikes and two outs to keep the game alive. Winningham’s bloop tied the game.

The Mets scored in the 10^th when Dale Burdick singled home Anthony Dimino. As part of the new MiLB extra innings rules, Dimino was placed on second base to start the 10^th.

In the bottom of the 10^th Adrian Valerio hit a grounder that deflected off of Mets shortstop Andres Gimenez into center field. That allowed Jared Oliva to score to tie the game. Oliva was the free runner to start on second base in the bottom of the 10^th.

Oliva was stuck at first base with two outs but a pair of singles off of Thomas McIlraith moved Oliva to third. Nogosek came in from the bullpen and hit Gaffney on the elbow with his first pitch to bring an end to a wild game.

Mets starter Harol Gonzalez twirled six innings and did not allow an earned run.

Jacob Zanon, Gimenez and Lindsay extended their hitting streaks to four games. Gimenez hit his first home run, a solo shot in the fourth inning.

The Mets (1-3) will try to end their three-game losing streak when they return to First Data Field to start a seven-game home stand on Monday. First pitch against the Tampa Tarpons is 6:30 p.m.