Mets snap 3-game skid with 8-1 victory over Tarpons

TAMPA, Fla. (May 1, 2026) – The St. Lucie Mets snapped their three-game losing skid with an 8-1 victory over the Tampa Tarpons on Friday night at Steinbrenner Field.

Mets starter Cam Tilly gave the pitching staff a boost by firing 6.0 strong innings. Tilly (2-0) gave up just one run on a solo homer and scattered four hits. He walked one and struck out six.

The Mets jumped out to a 1-0 lead on a Randy Guzman solo home run in the fourth inning. The homer traveled 400 feet at a 42 degree launch angle. It was Guzman’s sixth homer of the season.

Enmanuel Tejeda briefly tied the game 1-1 with his homer off Tilly in the sixth inning.

The Mets offense broke through in the seventh. With two outs Francisco Toledo scored from third base on a passed ball to give the Mets a 2-1 lead. AJ Salgado followed with a two-run triple to make it 4-1. JT Benson then hit another triple to bring home Salgado for a 5-1 lead.

Simon Juan lined a home run to right field in the eighth inning to up the lead to 6-1. Edward Lantigua hit a two-out RBI single later in the eighth to plate Elian Peña to make it 7-1.

Salgado capped the late offensive surge with a home run to center field in the ninth. Salgado went 3 for 5 with a homer, triple and double. His home run tied Guzman for the team lead. Both Guzman and Salgado rank second in the FSL in homers.

Peña went 1 for 4 with a single, walk, run and stolen base. He has reached base in 15 consecutive games.

Benson went 3 for 5 with a triple and double.

Mets reliever Ryan Dollar pitched two hitless and scoreless innings with six strikeouts. Ernesto Mercedes closed out the game with a scoreless ninth inning.

Tarpons reliever Brian Arias (0-3) took the loss. He was charged with five runs on four hits over 1.1 innings.

The Mets (11-14) and Tarpons (11-14) play the fifth game of their series at Steinbrenner Field on Saturday. First pitch is 6:30 p.m.