Mets walk their way to 4-3 win in 14 innings

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (June 24, 2016) - The St. Lucie Mets walked their way to a 4-3 win in 14 innings over the Palm Beach Cardinals on Friday at Tradition Field.
 
With the Mets down a run and two outs in the 14th, Cardinals reliever Landon Beck walked three batters in a row to send the Met to the victory. He issued a free pass to Vinny Siena to load the bases. John Mora took ball four on a 3-1 count to force home the tying run. Tomas Nido was then walked on four pitches by Beck to bring home Champ Stuart as the winning run.
 
The Mets improved to 5-0 in extra innings this year. Friday was their longest game of the season.
 
The Cardinals had taken a 3-2 lead in the top of the 14th when Robby Coles walked Allen Staton to leadoff the inning and Staton scored from second on Jhohan Acevedo's two-out single.
 
Previously, relievers Paul Paez, Corey Taylor and Ben Griset combined for a six shutout innings.
 
P.J. Conlon made his first start for St. Lucie after Thursday's promotion from Columbia. Conlon was solid, allowing seven hits and two runs in seven innings while throwing 99 pitches.
 
Conlon gave up three singles in the second, including a two-out RBI hit to Acevedo that made it 1-0.
 
Tomas Nido clubbed a leadoff homer in the bottom of the second to tie the game 1-1.
 
Staton greeted Conlon with a solo home run in the fourth to put the Cardinals up 2-1.
 
The Cardinals remained up a run until Kyle Grana walked Wuilmer Becerra with the bases loaded in the eighth to force home Jonathan Johnson.
 
The Mets have now walked 15 times with the bases loaded this season. They only have nine hits with the bags full.
 
Palm Beach starter Jack Flaherty, the No. 3 St. Louis prospect according to Baseball America, lasted 7.1 innings and gave up two runs.
 
Mora and Tucker Tharp had three hits apiece.
 
Next Up: The Mets (36-33, 1-1) and Cardinals (33-37, 1-1) conclude their series at Tradition Field on Saturday at 6:30 p.m.
 
For the Fans: It's the United Way School Supplies Drive. Fans who bring two new school supplies get a free ticket.