Cubs & Mets play 12 again in St. Lucie
The Mets and Cubs were deadlocked at 3-3 until the bottom of the 12th, when St. Lucie put men on first and second with two outs against RHP Ryan Searle (L, 4-2). CF Alonzo Harris, who had collected three hits in his last three at-bats, lined a single to left-center, scoring LF Travis Taijeron from second to win the game, 4-3.
The teams entered the ninth knotted up at 2-2, and the Cubs sparked a rally when C Micah Gibbs led off with a walk against LHP Jack Leathersich (BS, 1). Dustin Harrington came on to pinch run, and moved up to second base on a 5-3 fielder's choice off the bat of 1B Chad Noble. After Bonne flied out to center, SS Arismendy Alcantara ripped a triple off the right field wall, scoring Harrington to give the Cubs a 3-2 lead.
RHP Brian Schlitter recorded the final out in the eighth inning, and stayed on for the ninth with a chance to pick up the win. A lead-off double from DH Alonzo Harris and an RBI single from 2B Rylan Sandoval quickly erased that chance, as the Mets tied the game, 3-3, before Schlitter retired a batter in the inning. The right-hander managed to close out the frame without further damage, getting two pop outs and a strikeout to end the threat.
St. Lucie had a golden opportunity to win in the 10th inning, when Harris singled to left with two on and two out. As Taijeron motored for home, LF John Andreoli fired a bullet to home plate, and Noble hung on for the tag as Taijeron barreled into him.
Daytona could not get a run across until the eighth inning, when RF Elieser Bonne led off with a double against Leathersich. After Alcantara struck out looking, 2B Roni Torreyes drew a walk, and CF Rubi Silva loaded the bases with one out on a single to left. With the Cubs trailing 2-0, 3B Greg Rohan stepped in and struck out looking on three pitches, but DH Rebel Ridling sent a slow roller up the middle and beat out the throw to first. Bonne scored easily from third, and Torreyes hustled from second to score the tying run.
RHP P.J. Francescon pitched admirably through six innings, allowing just two runs on six hits with two walks and three strikeouts. The Nolansville, Tennessee native pitched into the seventh inning, but was chased from the game when SS T.J. Rivera walked and 3B Robbie Shields singled to center. The runners moved to second and third on a fielding error by CF Rubi Silva, and Lorick came on to relieve Francescon.
DH Alonso Harris chopped Lorick's first pitch up the middle for an RBI single, scoring Rivera and putting runners on the corners. From there, the southpaw went to work. Lorick struck out 2B Rylan Sandoval swinging, walked CF Darrel Ceciliani to load the bases and induced an inning-ending double play from 1B Alan Dykstra after falling behind in the count, 3-0.
RHP Tyler Pill recorded his best outing of the season, holding the Cubs to just five hits with one walk and six strikeouts over 6.2 shutout innings. The right-hander was pulled in the seventh inning after allowing a two-out single to Andreoli. After plunking Gibbs on the backside, Leathersich came on to strike out Noble to end the threat.
Lorick tossed 1.2 scoreless innings with two hits, two walks and a strikeout. Schlitter went 1.1 innings while allowing one run on two hits with a punch out and Searle pitched 2.2 innings, surrendering four hits, two walks and the game-winning run.
The Cubs will try to take the series in Wednesday's matchup, which starts at 6:30 p.m. LHP Austin Kirk will take the hill for the Cubs, while RHP Yohan Almonte pitches for the Mets.