Mets split doubleheader with Tortugas with wild game 2 win

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (August 5, 2026) – The St. Lucie Mets and Daytona Tortugas split their doubleheader at Clover Park on Wednesday night. Daytona won game 1, 8-4, while the Mets stormed back to win a wild game 2, 11-10 in 10 innings.

The doubleheader was played to make up a rainout between the teams from June 20^th. The Mets avoided being swept for a fourth time in doubleheaders while the Tortugas saw their season-high seven-game winning streak snapped in the second game.

In game 2, John Smith III hit a two-run single with one out in the bottom of the 10^th inning off Abraham Guitan to win the game for the Mets. The Tortugas had taken the lead in the top of the inning on a two-out RBI single by Rafhlmil Torres, but Mets reliever Tyler McLoughlin did not yield a second run.

Vladi Gomez began the home 10^th with a bunt single to set up runners at the corners. After a strikeout, Elian Peña was intentionally walked to load the bases. That brought up Smith III, who lined a two-strike pitch into right field easily scoring Wyatt Vincent and Gomez to end the nearly six hour doubleheader.

The Tortugas were on the verge of winning in regulation. They led 6-3 with two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning. With the bases loaded, Gomez hit a two-strike pitch into left field for a double. Bernard Moon overran the ball and a third run scored on the play to tie the game 6-6.

Both teams scored their free runner in the eighth inning. Drew Davies worked a bases loaded from Ernesto Mercedes with two outs to put the Tortugas up 7-6 in the top of the inning. Daytona reliever Jesus Colina unleased a wild pitch with two outs in the bottom of the inning to bring home Kooper Schulte from third base to tie the game 7-7.

Dylan King ripped a two-run homer off Mercedes to start the ninth inning that gave the Tortugas a 9-7 lead. Julio Zayas answered for the Mets with a leadoff two-run homer of his own against Colina in the bottom of the ninth to tie the game again, 9-9.

Gomez went 4 for 5 with three doubles, two RBI and two runs.

Smith III was 2 for 5 with a double and three RBI.

Zayas was 3 for 4 with a homer, two singles, a walk, two RBI and two runs.

In game 1, the Tortugas starter and Reds No. 5 prospect Aaron Watson made his Single-A debut and limited the Mets to two runs over 5.0 innings to get the win.

The Mets recorded eight hits off Watson but he was able to strand seven base runners. Pitching with a 2-1 lead in the third inning, Watson retired Ryan Stallman to strand the bases loaded and keep the lead. In the fourth inning he got Aiden Robbins to hit into an inning-ending double play with runners at the corners.

The Tortugas led wire-to-wire. Arnaldo Lantigua hit a one-out single in the first inning and he made his way around the bases as the Mets committed two throwing errors. Two runs scored on the play.

The Tortugas pulled away by scoring four runs in the fourth inning. Adolfo Sanchez hit a one-out home run and later in the inning two runners scored on a throwing error by Peña at shortstop to push the Daytona lead to 5-1. Davies added a RBI double off Conner Ware in the inning to make it 6-1.

The Tortugas scored their final two runs against Caden Wooster on a wild pitch and solo home run by Arnaldo Lantigua.

The Mets pounded out 10 hits in the loss. Peña went 2 for 4 with a double and two RBI.

Robbins and Bohan Adderley were also 2 for 4.

Kuhio Aloy (11^th round – Arkansas) went 1 for 3 with a single and a walk. His base hit in the fifth inning was the first of his pro career.

Gomez was 1 for 3 with a single, walk, run and stolen base.

Will Watson (oblique) got the start on MiLB rehab and pitched the first inning. He took the loss after being charged with two unearned runs.

The Mets (14-22, 47-55) and Tortugas (23-13, 44-58) are set to play a single nine-inning game at Clover Park on Thursday. First pitch is 6:10 p.m. It’s $2 Night with select $2 beer, hot dogs, fountain soda and popcorn.