PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (May 10, 2018) – The St. Lucie Mets edged the Lakeland Flying Tigers 4-3 in 10 innings on Thursday at First Data Field.
The teams played to a 3-3 tie through nine innings. In the top of the 10th inning, Mets reliever Matt Blackham struck out the side to strand Andres Sthormes at third base. Sthormes started the inning at second base per the new MiLB extra innings rules.
J.J. Franco started the bottom of the 10th on second base for the Mets. Jacob Zanon’s sacrifice bunt moved Franco to third. The second pitch from Lakeland reliever Trent Szutnik to Mets hitter Andres Gimenez sailed to the backstop, allowing Franco to score the winning run on the wild pitch.
The Mets improved to 3-1 in extra innings this year, including 3-0 at home. The winning run for the Mets in their last three walk-off wins have all come on a wild pitch to score a runner from third base.
Mets starting pitcher Harol Gonzalez twirled six solid innings. He allowed two runs (one earned) and struck out six while only walking one. He departed with a 3-2 lead in the seventh.
Joe Zanghi gave up one run in three innings of relief. Blackham got his second win with the perfect 10th.
The Mets jumped out to a 3-0 lead after two innings. Gimenez tripled in the first inning and scored on a wild pitch. Later in the inning with the bases loaded Ian Strom hit a sac fly to bring home Desmond Lindsay for a 2-0 lead.
Lindsay drew a bases-loaded walk in the second inning to make it 3-0 St. Lucie.
Lakeland chipped away to get the game tied. Jose Azocar reached third base on an error in the third and he scored on a passed ball.
Zac Shepherd was credited with a leadoff triple in the seventh when Strom lost the fly ball in the lights in right field. Shepherd scored on Dylan Burdeaux’s single to make it 3-2.
Danny Woodrow led off the eighth with a double against Zanghi. A single by Chad Sedio brought in Woodrow to tie the game 3-3.
Zanghi settled down to get through the rest of the eighth and ninth scoreless to force extras.
Lakeland starter Gregory Soto allowed three runs (one earned) in five innings. Reliever Fernando Perez only needed 34 pitches to work four scoreless innings.
Mike Paez went 2 for 3 with a walk for the Mets.
Woodrow, the Flying Tigers leadoff hitter, went 3 for 5.
The Mets (14-18) and Flying Tigers (14-19) continue their series on Friday at First Data Field. It’s Free Shirt Friday
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