St. Lucie Game Wrap - Tortugas slip by Mets late, win 3-2

 

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (April 28, 2022) – Daytona’s Gus Steiger hit a tie-breaking single in the top of the ninth to propel the Tortugas to a 3-2 win over the St. Lucie Mets on Thursday at Clover Park.

 

Mets starter Mike Vasil was excellent, holding the Tortugas to just one hit over 6.0 innings. He struck out four and did not allow an earned run.

 

However, the Tortugas took advantage of Vasil’s only two walks and turned those into unearned runs that tied the game.

 

Trailing 2-0, Daytona scored its first two runs without the benefit of a hit. In the fifth inning Hayden Jones took a leadoff walk, advanced to second on an errant pickoff throw, went to third on a wild pitch and scored on a ground out to make it 2-1.

 

In the sixth inning Austin Hendrick worked a one-out walk, went to second on a wild pitch, took third on a passed ball and scored on a wild pitch to tie the game 2-2.

 

Daytona loaded the bases on the top of the ninth against Nathan Lavender on a single by Hendrick, a hit batter and an intentional walk after a sac bunt. Steiger then hit a high chopper to third base that just scraped off the glove of William Lugo, who was playing in. Hendrick scored to give the Tortugas a 3-2 lead.

 

Gregory Guerrero hit a one-out single in the bottom of the ninth but Owen Holt was able to work around it to secure his first save.

 

Carlos Dominguez hit a lead off home run in the fourth inning for the Mets, his fifth long ball of the season, to put the Mets up 2-0.

 

Raul Beracierta went 2 for 4 with a run scored. Alex Ramirez was 1 for 4 with a double.

 

Reliever Brendan Hardy pitched two perfect innings with three strikeouts.

 

Tortugas reliever Ryan Cardona pitched three scoreless innings to get the win.

 

Daytona got its first hit with one out in the first inning and did not get its second hit until the top of the ninth.

 

The Mets (11-7) and Tortugas (9-9) play the fourth game of their series on Friday. First pitch is 6:10 p.m. Fans can take advantage of the Family 4 Pack which includes four tickets, four hot dogs, four sodas and a giant popcorn for $50. Kids 14-and-under can run the bases after the game.