Game Recap: Schmidt powers Mussels to 8-3 win over Mets

 

St. Lucie and Fort Myers split six-game series, 3-3

 

ST. LUCIE METS PRESS RELEASE: FORT MYERS, Fla. (June 4, 2023) – The Fort Myers Mighty Mussels defeated the St. Lucie Mets 8-3 on Sunday afternoon at Hammond Stadium to earn a 3-3 series split (Box Score).

 

Backup catcher Kyle Schmidt had a monster day for the Mussels, going 3 for 3 with a three-run homer, triple and a two-run single. In his bid for a double and the cycle in the eighth inning he was hit by a pitch.

 

Meanwhile, the Mets offense matched Fort Myers with seven total hits but went just 1 for 13 with runners in scoring positon and stranded 12 base runners.

 

The Mets took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second on a sac fly by Jose Hernandez.

 

The Mussels went ahead for good on Schmidt’s three-run homer off Jawilme Ramirez in the bottom of the second inning.

 

Schmidt flared two-out, two-run single to center in the third inning against Ramirez to put the Mussels up 6-1.

 

Ramirez, who entered the game leading the FSL with a 2.95 ERA, was tagged for six runs on five hits in 3.2 innings. He took the loss as his ERA jumped a full run to 3.95.

 

The Mets scratched across a run in the fifth on a RBI double by Junior Tilien and another run in the sixth on a two-out RBI single by Wilfredo Lara to make it 6-3.

 

Schmidt started the bottom of the sixth with a triple on a half swing. Luis Baez followed with a RBI double off Christopher Vasquez to make it 7-3. Baez then stole third and scored on a wild pitch for the final run of the game.

 

Mussels reliever Jarret Whorff pitched 3.0 innings behind starter Wilker Reyes to get the win. Whorff allowed one run on three hits. He struck out five. Six Mussels pitchers combined for 13 strikeouts.

 

Tilien went 2 for 5 with his 13^th double.

 

Karell Paz reached base three times on two walks and a hit-by-pitch.

 

Jacob Reimer went 1 for 3 with a single, walk and hit-by-pitch.

 

Elieser Hernandez made his third MLB rehab start with St. Lucie. He pitched 1.1 hitless and scoreless innings. He walked one and struck out one.

 

The Mets (16-34) are off on Monday. They return to Clover Park on Tuesday to start a six-game series vs. the Daytona Tortugas. First pitch on Tuesday is 6:10 p.m.