Game Recap: St. Lucie Mets Furious Comeback Falls Short in Clearwater

Threshers hold off Mets 7-6

 

ST. LUCIE METS PRESS RELEASE: CLEARWATER, Fla. (April 27, 2023) – A terrific ninth inning comeback effort by the St. Lucie Mets fell just short in a 7-6 loss to the Clearwater Threshers on Thursday at BayCare Ballpark (Box Score).

 

The Mets entered the final inning trailing 7-3 and scored three runs with two outs. The rally started with a one-out single by Blaine McIntosh. After a ground out, an error on shortstop Erick Brito allowed Kevin Villavicencio to reach base. Jacob Reimer followed with a RBI single, his third hit of the game. Junior Tilien then wacked two-run double, his second of the game, to cut the deficit to 7-6.

 

Threshers reliever Jack Dallas settled down to get a ground out from Jefrey De Los Santos to end the game, stranding Tilien on second base.

 

The Threshers were able to score two crucial insurance runs in the eighth inning off Jimmy Loper. Ricardo Rosario worked a bases-loaded walk and Emaarion Boyd hit a run-scoring ground out to open up a 7-3 lead.

 

The Mets got off to a fast start. Rhylan Thomas opened the game with a double and Villavicencio followed with another double to plate Thomas for a 1-0 lead. A single by Reimer was booted in center field by Boyd, allowing Villavicencio to score for a 2-0 lead.

 

The red hot Threshers offense pounced on Mets starter Christopher Vasquez for three runs in the home first inning. Gabriel Rincones, Jr. hit a RBI single and Chad Castillo brought in a run with a ground out. Jordan Dissin hit a two-out RBI double to make it 3-2 Threshers.

 

Thomas tied the game 3-3 in the top of the second with a RBI double that plated Fernando Villalobos.

 

The game remained tied until Castillo hit a two-out solo homer off Benito Garcia in the fifth inning. Castillo was the only hitter to reach base against Garcia in 2.1 innings. Garcia took the tough luck loss.

 

A sac fly by Ricardo Rosario in the sixth inning opened up a 5-3 Clearwater lead.

 

Reimer went 3 for 5 with a run and RBI. He has reached base 9 of 14 times in the series.

 

Thomas and Tilien both went 2 for 5 with a pair of doubles. The Mets hit a season-high five doubles.

 

Clearwater relievers Estibenzon Jimenez and Wen Hui Pan combined for 5.0 scoreless innings behind starter Alex Rao. Jimenez was credited with the win.

 

The Mets (5-13) and Threshers (12-6) play the fourth game of their series at BayCare Ballpark on Friday. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.

St. Lucie Mets Players this year:

Jett Williams; Carlos Domínguez; Miguel Alfonseca; Abraham Almonte; Eli Ankeney; Javier Atencio; Luke Bartnicki; Jean Calderon; Dyron Campos; Luis Castillo; Robert Colina; Felipe De La Cruz; Jefrey De Los Santos; Benito García; Saul García; Brian Gursky; Adrian Hernandez; Elliot Johnstone; Joey Lancellotti; Jimmy Loper; Yeral Martinez; Blaine McIntosh; Douglas Orellana; Layonel Ovalles; Vincent Perozo; Jawilme Ramirez; Jacob Reimer; Joe Joe Rodriguez; Eduardo Salazar; Rhylan Thomas; Junior Tilien; Christopher Vasquez; Jordany Ventura; Fernando Villalobos; Kevin Villavicencio;