St. Lucie Game Recap: Seven-Run Inning Propels P.B. Cardinals Past St. Lucie Mets, 8-6

St. Lucie Mets Via X/Twitter

Baez crushes 5^th homer, extends hitting streak to 16 games

Box Score

 

JUPITER, Fla. (May 16, 2024) – The Palm Beach Cardinals scored seven runs in the seventh inning to come from behind and defeat the St. Lucie Mets 8-2 on Thursday at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium.

 

It was the 12^th straight loss for the Mets which ties for the second longest streak in team history. It was also the 11^th consecutive road loss which matches a team record.

 

The Mets, who have five one-run losses during the streak, looked poised break through when Boston Baro hit a two-out RBI single in the top of the seventh to give St. Lucie a 2-1 lead.

 

However, the Cardinals scored seven runs in the home half of the inning to take control of the game. Saul Garcia walked the leadoff hitter on four pitches and Brayden Jobert followed with a single to put runners at the corners. Jobert then stole second. A balk by Garcia forced in the tying run to make it 2-2 and sent Jobert to third base as the go-ahead run.

 

Garcia rallied to get a pop out and a strikeout to keep the game 2-2. He then walked Johnfrank Salazar and was replaced by Miguel Alfonseca. Miguel Villarroel greeted Alfonseca with a two-run double to the left-center gap that gave the Cardinals a 4-2 lead.

 

After another walk, Jose Cordoba hit a RBI single to make it 5-2. An errant pickoff throw by Alfonseca brought in another run. Ross Friedrick capped the inning with a long two-run homer for the final tally of 8-2.

 

Mets starter Ernesto Mercedes pitched 5.0 excellent innings, allowing one run on two infield singles. He walked two and struck out six in the no-decision.

 

Jesus Baez tied the game 1-1 in the third inning when he homered off Jason Savacool. The home run was Baez's fifth of the season and extended his hitting streak to 16 games which is now top 10 in team history.

 

Kevin Villavicencio led all Mets hitters by going 2 for 4.

 

Ixan Henderson earned the win for Palm Beach. He gave up one run in 2.0 innings.

 

The Mets (12-24) and Cardinals (21-15) play the fourth game of their series at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium on Friday. First pitch is 6:30 p.m.

 

Jesus Baez hits a laser to LF for his 5th homer of the season. It extends his hitting streak to 16 games which puts him in the top 10 all time in team history! pic.twitter.com/h5F7mhRE5l

— St. Lucie Mets (@stluciemets) May 16, 2024