PRESS RELEASE - Walks plague St. Lucie Mets in 10-3 loss to Tortugas

 

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (April 8, 2023) – The Daytona Tortugas took advantage of 12 walks to beat the St. Lucie Mets 10-3 on Saturday night at Clover Park.

 

Five of the 12 Tortugas batters who walked went on to score while two other walks came with the bases loaded to force in runs. Another batter who was hit by a pitch went on to score.

 

The Tortugas Wendell Marrero drew four walks. He scored twice and was credited with RBI when his third free pass occurred with the bases loaded.

 

Early in the game Mets starter Christoper Vasquez was sharp. He logged three scoreless innings with three strikeouts in his team debut.

 

However, the Mets bullpen could not find its control. The Tortugas scored two runs off Elliot Johnstone in the fourth inning when Ariel Almonte cracked a RBI double and Sal Stewart scored on a double play ball.

 

An error on Daytona shortstop Victor Acosta helped the Mets get a run back in the bottom of the fifth.

 

The control issues cropped up on Johnstone and Luke Bartnicki in the sixth inning. Marrero and Michel Triana drew consecutive walks and Victor Acosta bashed a two-run double for a 4-1 lead.

 

Back-to-back walks issued by Bartnicki with the bases loaded in the seventh inning increased Daytona’s lead to 6-1.

 

Jefrey De Los Santos brought the Mets closer with a two-run homer in the bottom of the eighth.

 

The Tortugas blew the game open with a four-run ninth. Hector Rodriguez hit a RBI triple and Triana ripped a two-run single. Three walks and hit batter by the combination of Jean Calderon and Joe Joe Rodriguez set the table for the Tortugas.

 

The Mets have issued 23 walks in the first two games of the series.

 

Daytona starter Chris McElvain twirled four hitless innings in his professional debut. Jonathan Harmon pitched the following 3.2 innings to get the win.

 

The Mets were held to four hits. De Los Santos went 2 for 4 and Kevin Villavicencio was 2 for 3.

 

The Mets (0-2) and Tortugas (2-0) play the final game of their series at Clover Park on Sunday. First pitch is scheduled for 12:10 p.m.