St. Lucie Mets claim 5-4 walk-off win on Dunedin throwing error

 

Ramirez homers, goes 3 for 5 with two stolen bases 

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (June 27, 2021) – The St. Lucie Mets rallied for two runs in the bottom of the ninth to claim a walk-off 5-4 win over the Dunedin Blue Jays on Sunday at Clover Park. 

The Mets entered the final frame trailing 4-3. Alex Ramirez started the rally with a single. Cole Kleszcz followed with a walk. Warren Saunders then grounded a ball slowly to third baseman Harry Ray, who skipped a low throw away from first baseman PK Morris. The ball scuttled away into the visiting bullpen allowing Ramirez to score to the tie game and Kleszcz to score to win the game. 

Ray, who was charged with an error, had previously given the Blue Jays their 4-3 lead on a two-out home run in the sixth inning. 

Willy Taveras (1-2) pitched a perfect eighth and ninth inning to get the win. 

Julian Valdez (1-2) suffered the loss after recording just one out in the ninth. Both runs against him were unearned. 

Ramirez went 3 for 5 with a solo home run, two singles and two stolen bases. His leadoff homer in the fifth inning gave the Mets a 3-0 lead. 

Mets starter David Griffin started off red hot in his team debut. He only allowed two hits and no runs through his first 5.1 innings. However, the Blue Jays tagged him for four hits and four runs in the sixth inning, with Ray’s homer knocking him from the game. 

Griffin’s final line was 5.2 innings, six hits, four runs, one walk and seven strikeouts on 95 pitches. 

Dunedin pitcher Jol Concepcion turned in a quality start. He gave up three runs on five hits over six innings. 

The Mets and Blue Jays split their series 3-3. The Mets have now won three series, split four series and lost just one series this year. 

The Mets (26-22) are off on Monday. They return to action on Tuesday when they begin a six-game road series at the Clearwater Threshers. First pitch on Tuesday from BayCare Ballpark is scheduled for 7 p.m.