St. Lucie 9 - Lakeland 2

LAKELAND, Fla. (April 22, 2019) – The St. Lucie Mets came out of their off day with an explosive performance, routing the Lakeland Flying Tigers 9-2 on Monday night at Joker Marchant Stadium.

The Mets bashed out 11 hits and nine runs in the first four innings. Eight of the nine runs were scored on two-out hits.

PC - Bill Hasseler

Mets starting pitching Tony Dibrell got all the run support he wanted, even though he did not need much. Dibrell limited the Flying Tigers to one run and three hits over 5.1 dominant innings. He struck out six and did not surrender a hit until the fifth inning.

Dibrell improved to 2-1 and lowered his ERA to 2.08. He has only given up eight hits in his last three starts (17.2 innings).

The Mets plated six runs with two outs in the second inning. Manny Rodriguez started the run parade with a RBI double. Matt Winaker followed with another RBI double to make it 2-0.

Two batters later Hansel Moreno ripped a two-run double for a 4-0 lead. Quinn Brodey then hit a ball that turned into a little league home run. He singled up the middle to drive in Moreno. The throw to home plate to get Moreno skipped by catcher Austin Authmann which allowed Brodey to go to third base. Pitcher Tarik Skubal backed up the play at the plate and overthrew third base trying get Brodey. Brodey raced home on the errant throw for a 6-0 lead.

Luis Carpio, who led St. Lucie with 12 home runs in 2018, began the third inning with a solo homer. It was his first of the season.

Brodey and Carpio each hit a two-out RBI single in the fourth inning to stretch the Mets lead to 9-0.

Relievers Joseph Shaw (1.2 innings) and Blake Taylor (2.0 innings) finished off the game for the Mets. Taylor retired all six batters he faced and only needed 19 pitches.

Brodey and Carpio had three hits apiece. Winaker had a double and a triple. Leadoff hitter Jacob Zanon reached base three times with two singles and a walk.

Lakeland starting pitcher Tarik Skubal entered the game with a 1.13 ERA but was chased in the second inning. He was tagged for six runs (five earned) and seven hits in 1.2 innings.

The Mets (10-8) and Flying Tiger (7-9) have a quick turnaround. Tuesday’s game at Joker Marchant Stadium begins at 10:30 a.m.