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PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (September 1, 2017) - The St. Lucie Mets suffered a tough 8-5 defeat to the Palm Beach Cardinals in 12 innings in their final home game at First Data Field on Friday.
The Mets led by a run in the bottom of the ninth, but Alex Palsha couldn't close out the game. The Cardinals ripped off three straight singles to start the inning, the last of which came off the bat of Vince Jackson to score Blake Drake to make it 5-5.
José Godoy hit a two-run homer off of Craig Missigman in the top of the 12th for the game winner.
Kodi Whitley and Kevin Hamann, two relievers brought over from the GCL Cardinals earlier in the day, made their debuts and combined to pitch five scoreless innings to end the game. Hamann earned the win.
Tim Tebow went 3 for 6 with three singles, a walk and a run. Tebow nearly scored the game-winning run in the bottom of the ninth. He reached third with two outs and was stranded when Wuilmer Becerra grounded out to third. Edmundo Sosa's low throw to first base had to be scooped by Leobaldo Pina, otherwise Tebow wouldn't scored to win it.
The Mets (61-75, 28-40) and Cardinals (74-58, 34-31) move their series to Roger Dean Stadium on Saturday. First pitch is 5:30 p.m.
