Mets roar to life, stun Flying Tigers 3-2 in extras

Mora hits go-ahead double with 2 outs in the 10th

May 17, 2017

LAKELAND, Fla. (May 17, 2017) - The St. Lucie Mets overcame a sluggish start to stun the Lakeland Flying Tigers 3-2 in 10 innings on Wednesday at Joker Marchant Stadium. The Mets rallied for the winning run in the top of 10th after the first two batters were quickly retired. Enmanuel

LAKELAND, Fla. (May 17, 2017) - The St. Lucie Mets overcame a sluggish start to stun the Lakeland Flying Tigers 3-2 in 10 innings on Wednesday at Joker Marchant Stadium.

The Mets rallied for the winning run in the top of 10th after the first two batters were quickly retired. Enmanuel Zabala worked a two-out walk from Zac Reininger. That brought up John Mora, who doubled down the right field line. Zabala hustled all the way from first and scored the go-ahead run.

In the bottom of the 10th reliever Johnny Magliozzi induced a game-ending 6-4-3 double play off the bat of Ben Verlander.

It did not go well for the Mets early. Flying Tigers starter Kyle Dowdy held St. Lucie to one hit and no runs over the first six innings while the Flying Tigers scratched across two runs.

The Mets broke out the bats in the seventh. J.C. Rodriguez fell behind Dowdy 0-2, but came back to force a full count and rip a triple that sparked the Mets to life. Jhoan Urena followed with a RBI double. After a ground out, Dale Burdick laced a RBI single that tied the game 2-2.

The Mets started Chris Flexen, who came off the DL after suffering a knee injury in spring training. Flexen was sharp over four innings in his season debut. He scattered three singles and gave up one run. He did not walk a batter and struck out three.

Mets first round pick Justin Dunn came on after Flexen and pitched the final five innings of regulation. He gave up just one run and three hits. The final four outs he recorded all came on strikeouts. He caught Arvicent Perez looking to end the ninth and send the game to extras.

Dunn earned his second win.

Mora went 2 for 5 with two doubles and extended his hitting streak to 14 games. Urena's double gave him 14 on the season which is tied for first in the Florida State League.

The Mets (18-22) look for the series victory over the Flying Tigers (19-21) when the teams meet in their four-game finale on Thursday. First pitch at Joker Marchant Stadium is 6:30 p.m.

Steven Matz and Seth Lugo are expected to pitch in rehab assignments.