Mets rally late, sink Threshers for 3rd straight win

CLEARWATER, Fla. (June 30, 2018) – The St. Lucie Mets finished a tough June on a high note.

The Mets rallied late to defeat the Clearwater Threshers 3-2 on Saturday at Spectrum Field for their third consecutive victory.

The Mets trailed 2-1 entering the eighth. Ian Strom started the inning by getting plunked. Wuilmer Becerra advanced Strom to second base with a sac bunt. Then Andres Gimenez roped a RBI single into right field to plate Strom and tie the game 2-2.

St. Lucie took the lead in the ninth. Mike Paez led off with a double down the third base line against Kyle Dohy. Paez advanced to third on a wild pitch by Dohy. Paez scored on a second wild pitch from Dohy to put the Met up 3-2.

Adam Atkins closed out the game in the ninth. Henry Lartigue singled on the first pitch, but Atkins recovered by striking out Jose. Pujols. Atkins then induced a game-ending double play off the bat of Mickey Moniak. The grounder was handled by the shortstop Gimenez, who stepped on second base for the second out and threw to first base for the final out.

The Mets turned a season-high four double plays. Gimenez was involved in all four.

The Mets pieced together the win with four pitchers. Blake Taylor was activated off the disabled list and pitched the first three innings. He gave up one hit and one run while walking two and striking out three.

Thomas McIlraith pitched the next three innings, also allowing just one run.

Seth Davis pitched a perfect seventh and eighth to claim the win. He struck out two.

Atkins converted his second save in his second try this season.

The Mets opened the scoring in the first inning. Clearwater starter McKenzie Mills fielded a bunt by Gimenez but overthrew first base, allowing Gimenez to go all the way to third base. Desmond Lindsay followed with a RBI single to put the Mets up 1-0.

The Threshers tied the game in the second. Kyle Martin blasted a RBI double to bring home Edgar Cabral.

Arquimedes Gamboa slugged a leadoff home run vs. McIlraith in the sixth to put the Thresher up 2-1.

But the lead wouldn’t last. The Mets won for the second time when trailing in a game after seven innings.

Paez went 2 for 3 with two doubles.

Mills did not allow an earned run over six innings for Clearwater.