McNeil rips walk-off hit as Mets beat Tortugas 2-1

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (July 27, 2015) - The St. Lucie Mets bounced back from an ugly defeat on Sunday by earning a 2-1 walk-off win over the Daytona Tortugas at Tradition Field on Monday.
 
Jeff McNeil stroked a game-winning single down the right field line to bring home Champ Stuart from second base with one out in the ninth. McNeil's hit came on a 0-2 pitch from Carlos Gonzalez.
 
The inning was set up by back-to-back single from Colton Plaia and Stuart, the No. 8 and 9 hitters. Both went 3 for 4.
 
After allowing 14 hits and 12 earned runs in his last start, Mets pitcher Kevin McGowan bounced back with a great performance. He limited the Tortugas to one run on only three hits in seven innings. He walked four and struck out three in the no-decision.
 
Robby Coles got the win by tossing two scoreless innings of relief. Coles pitched around a leadoff double in the top of the ninth by Alex Blandino by getting a pop out and an inning-ending double play.
 
Each team scored its first run in the second inning. For Daytona, Sebastian Elizalde worked a leadoff walk and went to third on a hit by Daniel Pigott. Elizalde scored on a sac fly by Junior Arias.
 
The Mets tied it on a one-out RBI single by Phil Evans that brought in Stefan Sabol, who doubled to lead off the inning.
 
The Mets pounded out 15 hits in the game but their only extra base hit was the double by Sabol.
 
The victory comes a day after the Mets were blown out 16-4 by the Tortugas.
 
Blandino accounted for three of Daytona's four hits. On Sunday, the Tortugas belted out a season-high 19 hits.
 
The Mets (50-50, 15-15) and Tortugas (54-45, 17-12) continue their series at Tradition Field on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. It is $2 Tuesday with $2 tickets for followers of @stluciemets on Twitter.