Mets hold off Flying Tigers 5-3 for sixth straight win

LAKELAND, Fla. (July 13, 2015) - The St. Lucie Mets worked through a dicey ninth inning and beat the Lakeland Flying Tigers 5-3 on Monday for their sixth consecutive win.
 
Casey Meisner tossed six scoreless innings and the Mets took a 5-0 lead to the bottom of the ninth before Lakeland's offense came alive. The Mets entered the final frame having pitched 29 consecutive scoreless innings. They were seeking their third straight shutout.
 
In the ninth, Julian Hilario came on and walked the first two batters before getting a pop out. Tyler Hanover then hit an RBI single to break the shutout streak and make it 5-1.
 
Hilario was relieved for Kyle Regnault, who walked Keaton Jones to load the bases. Regnault struck out Jiwan James for the second out but Raph Rhymes drilled a two-run single to make it 5-3. Regnault settled down and got Javier Bentancourt to bounced into a fielders choice to end the game. Regnault picked up his second save.
 
The Mets swept the four-game series. It's their first road sweep of the year. Their six-game winning streak is a new season high.
 
The Mets scored four of their five runs with two outs. In the third, Victor Cruzado tripled and scored on Matt Oberste's two-out single.
 
Amed Rosario doubled in the fourth and came home on a single by Phil Evans.
 
In the seventh, the first two batters grounded out against Adenson Verastegui. Jeff Glenn kept the inning going with a single and Champ Stuart walked. Jeff McNeil then lofted a two-run double to the gap in left-center to make it 4-0. McNeil scored on an error by Keaton Jones at short to put the Mets up 5-0.
 
Meisner fought command issues early and pitched around two singles and walk in the first inning. He ended up going six scoreless with four hits and three walks allowed. He struck out three. Meisner improved to 3-0 and the Mets are 4-0 in his four starts.
 
Kelly Secrest tossed two scoreless innings out of the bullpen.
 
Rosario went 3 for 4 and was a home run shy of the cycle. He tripled in the eighth but never came to bat again.
 
Evans went 2 for 4. He has now has four consecutive two-hit games.
 
Locke St. John took the loss for Lakeland.
 
The Mets (46-43, 11-8) are off on Tuesday. They return to Tradition Field on Wednesday to start a four-game series with the Dunedin Blue Jays. First pitch on an All You Can Eat and a Seat Wednesday is at 6:30 p.m. The game can be heard on www.stluciemets.com.