Tarpons limit Mets offense in 5-2 victory

TAMPA, Fla. (May 2, 2026) – The Tampa Tarpons clinched a series victory with a 5-2 win over the St. Lucie Mets on Saturday night at Steinbrenner Field. Tampa now leads the six-game series 4-1.

Tarpons pitching limited the Mets to two hits and one run over the first eight innings. Down 5-1, the Mets made a push in the ninth. Randy Guzman led off with a single and scored on a RBI hit by Julio Zayas to make it 5-2. But with the tying run lurking on deck, Tampa reliever Parker Seay got Chase Meggers to hit into a game-ending double play.

Tarpons starter J.T. Etheridge (1-0) limited the Mets to one hit and one run over 5.0 innings to get the win. Relievers Bryce Warrecker (1.0 shutout innings) and Pedro Rodriguez (1.1 shutout innings) continued the impressive night for the Tarpons on the mound.

The Tarpons scored two unearned runs in the first inning against Mets starter Jose Chirinos (1-1). Luis Durango led off the inning with a bunt that was thrown away by Mets third baseman Branny De Oleo for an error. Brando Mayea plated Durango with a RBI single to tie the game 1-1. JoJo Jackson hit a two-out RBI single to give Tampa a 2-1 lead.

Chirinos threw a wild pitch that scored a runner from third base in the second inning that made it 3-1. In the third inning a passed ball set up a sac fly for Willy Montero that increased the Tampa lead to 4-1.

Bryce Martin-Grudzielanek hit a RBI single off Elwis Mijares in the fifth inning for a run that was charged to Chirinos that made it 5-1.

Chirinos was charged with five runs (two earned) over 4.1 innings. He gave up seven hits, walked two and struck out six.

Mijares did not give up a run of his own over 3.2 innings. Jorge De Leon pitched a scoreless eighth.

Guzman went 1 for 3 with a single and RBI.

Elian Peña was 0 for 4 with a strikeout. It was just the second time in 24 games Peña did not reach base.

The Mets (11-15) and Tarpons (12-14) play the finale of their six-game series on Sunday. First pitch is set for 12:00 p.m.