Bullpen falters as Hammerheads drop to Mets 5-2
Jupiter, FL-The Hammerheads (15-17) received another fantastic start from Luis Castillo (4-1, 2.41 ERA) he tossed 5.0 innings pitched, allowed just one earned and four strike outs. The Hammerheads left eight runners on base and surrendered a 2-1 lead in the top of the 8th inning.
Esmerling De La Rosa (BS, 1) was brought on in relief with a lead and allowing 2 hits and one run to tie the game up. Tomas Nido drove a soft line drive single to center field and brought home Kevin Taylor and knot it up at 2-2, Jhoan Urena followed up with a soft line out to second baseman Brian Schales and the Hammerheads lead evaporated going into the 9th inning.
The Sharks went three up, three down in the bottom of the 8th. In the 9th inning Jose Adames (L, 1-2) was brought on to try and hold the score at 2-2. Adames allows four hits and three earned runs, with one strikeout and one walk.
St. Lucie stretched the lead to 5-to-2 and that's where it would end. Robert Coles (S, 2) takes his second save of the season, retired one by way of a strikeout and allowed one hit. Coles ERA currently sits at 1.29 on the season.
The Hammerheads will look to grab a series split tomorrow at Roger Dean Stadium. Michael Mader (1-0, 2.10 ERA) gets the nod for your Sharks and Rickey Knapp (3-1, 2.20) will head to the hill for the St. Lucie Mets. Jupiter drops to 2-5 against the St. Lucie Mets this season and sit 3.5 games out of 1st place in the Southern Division that at this point is anybody's to win in the first half of the year.
The Mets are currently in second place by a-half game behind the Fort Myers Miracle (19-14). On the Northern side of the Florida State League, Clearwater has a two game edge over the Tampa Yankees for first place with the best record in the FSL at 21-11.
Let's Have a Party Thursday continues tomorrow night (5/12) at Roger Dean Stadium, with the purchase of a $10 cup you can get $1 beer for the entire night.