Manatees Rally Past Mets 6-5

PORT ST. LUCIE, FLA- Brevard County rallied with a four-run seventh and held off the St. Lucie Mets 6-5 on Monday in the series opener at Tradition Field.

The Mets had a 4-2 lead entering the seventh, before the Manatees rallied with four runs off of Mets reliever Chasen Bradford.

Aderlin Rodriguez had an RBI infield single in the ninth to cut the deficit to 6-5. Travis Taijeron doubled to left with one out as the Mets had runners at second and third. Rylan Sandoval flied out to shallow right and Cam Maron struck out swinging and the Mets rally fell short.

Dustin Lawley had an RBI triple in the first to give the Mets a 1-0 lead. Lawley had a go-ahead solo home run to right-center in the fifth and drove in three runs. Taijeron ripped a solo home run to left in the fifth to extend the lead to 4-2.

Hansel Robles received a no-decision and allowed two runs and four hits over four innings. Jim Fuller pitched two scoreless innings in relief. Hamilton Bennett and Carlos Vazquez each pitched a scoreless inning out of the bullpen.

The Mets will host the Manatees at Tradition Field on Tuesday, May 14. The game is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Matt Bowman will make his second start with the Mets.