Game Recap and Highlights: Outstanding pitching helps St. Lucie Mets snap losing streak

 

St. Lucie squeaks out 2-1 win over Palm Beach

 

ST. LUCE METS PRESS RELEASE: PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (May 20, 2023) – The St. Lucie Mets snapped a nine-game losing streak with a 2-1 victory over the Palm Beach Cardinals in front of a crowd of 2,759 at Clover Park on Saturday night (Box Score).

 

The Mets received a dominant performance from a trio of pitchers. Starter Jordany Ventura kept the Cardinals off balance with a variety of pitches and put up 5.0 innings. He scattered three singles, gave up one unearned run, walked three and struck out five.

 

Joe Joe Rodriguez followed with three no hit innings of relief. He struck out three.

 

Brendan Hardy closed the game in emphatic fashion by striking out the side in the ninth for his first save of the year.

 

The Mets scored their only two runs in the first inning against Brycen Mautz. RhylanThomas and Jett Williams started the inning with consecutive singles. Later in the inning Junior Tilien drew a two-out walk to load the bases. Mautz then plunked Yeral Martinez to force in the game’s first run. Eduardo Salazar followed by drawing a walk to force in another run for a 2-0 lead.

 

Meanwhile, Ventura cruised right along, retiring nine in a row at one point. Jose Zapata led off the fifth with a single and Ventura plunked Lizandro Espinoza. A passed ball advanced both runners and Zapata scored on a wild pitch to make it 2-1. However, Ventura settled down by getting a pop out and ground out to strand the tying run at third base.

 

The Cardinals only managed two more base runners over the final four innings and neither advanced past first.

 

Thomas went 2 for 3 with a walk in his return from the 7-day IL.

 

New York Mets catcher Tomas Nido (dry-eye syndrome) continued his rehab assignment by going 0 for 4 with a run scored as the DH.

 

Mautz took a tough loss. He ended up holding the Mets to two runs over 6.0 innings.

 

The Mets (9-29) and Cardinals (24-14) wrap up their six-game series at Clover Park on Sunday at 12:10 p.m.

Brendan Hardy Ks 3 in the 9th for his 1st save as he rehabs with the @stluciemets. They win 2-1 getting runs on a bases loaded walk and a HBP in the 1st. #Mets #LGM #MetsTwitter @ernestdove @MiLBMetsMadness @bkfan09 pic.twitter.com/0VwYNXR9DN

— Mets News and Links (@JohnFromAlbany) May 21, 2023