Jupiter Tops First Place Mets, 5-4

Christian Yelich scored the go-ahead run on an infield single by Brian McConkey, and the Jupiter Hammerheads (9-10) topped the first place St. Lucie Mets (15-4) Wednesday night at Roger Dean Stadium, 5-4. The Mets have now lost two games in a row as the Hammerheads have put together back-to-back wins.

Marcell Ozuna singled with one out in the bottom of eighth inning, but was erased when Yelich grounded into a fielders choice. Yelich moved into scoring position on a wild pitch, setting the stage for McConkey. McConkey grounded a ball into the hole on the right side of the infield that took a diving stop by second basemen Daniel Muno to corral, but allowed a hustling Yelich to score all the way from second and give Jupiter the lead.

The Hammerheads got on the board early with two runs in the first inning. McConkey provided the first run of the game with an RBI-single and Aaron Dudley added a sac fly to put Jupiter ahead 2-0.

McConkey's RBI-groundout put the Hammerheads up 3-0 in the third and Danny Black drove in Ryan Fisher with a sac fly in the fourth. Fisher had tripled to lead off the frame.

Andres Torres, who is on Major League rehab with St. Lucie, sparked the Mets offense in the top of the fourth with a double. He came in to score on a Cory Vaughn ground out. Caesar Puello added a RBI-double to cut the score to 3-2 at the time.

The Mets narrowed the gap again at 4-3 in the fifth inning when Francisco Pena scored on a wild pitch, but Jupiter starter Rett Varner left the tying run stranded at third.

St. Lucie pushed across the tying run in the sixth when Wilmer Flores connected on a solo homer off Hammerheads' reliever Alan Oaks.

Raudel Lazo (1-0) picked up his first professional win as he pitched a scoreless inning out of the Jupiter bullpen. Taylor Whitenton (1-1) was tagged with the loss for St. Lucie. He pitched an inning and two-thirds and allowed one run on two hits.

Michael Brady earned his second save of the year with a perfect ninth inning for Jupiter.

Varner went five innings and was charged with three runs (two earned) on five hits. He struck out four.

Ozuna went 3-for-4 with a run scored and McConkey knocked in three on the evening. Danny Black also went 2-for-2 in the game to extend his hitting streak to seven games.

The Hammerheads and Mets will play game two of the series tomorrow night at 6:35 p.m. on Dollar Night at the 'Dean. RH Erik Goeddel (0-0, 3.00) will be on the hill for St. Lucie opposite LH Edgar Olmos (0-0, 3.60) for Jupiter.