Mets survive wild 9th, edge Marauders 1-0

BRADENTON, Fla. (May 25, 2017) -Austin McGeorge and the St. Lucie Mets survived a crazy bottom of the ninth to hang on for a 1-0 win over the Bradenton Marauders on Thursday at LECOM Park.
 
With no outs in the ninth, McGeorge threw a sac bunt by Ke'Bryan Hayes over the head of Dale Burdick at first base, allowing Cole Tucker to charge around the bases. Tucker was sent home but right fielder Arnaldo Berrios' relay throw to catcher Patrick Mazeika was in time to get Tucker at the plate.
 
Hayes ended up on third base with one out. McGeorge settled down to strike out Will Craig and Mitchell Tolman to preserve the victory.
 
Mets starter Nabil Crismatt earned the win after pitching brilliantly for eight innings. Crismatt, the reigning Florida State League Pitcher of the Week, struck out nine batters and walked one. He scattered four singles.
 
In his previous start, Crismatt fanned 11 Dunedin Blue Jays over seven scoreless innings. Crismatt has now given the Mets seven scoreless innings or better in three of his last four starts.
 
The Mets scored the game's only run in the fourth. Wuilmer Becerra led off the inning with an opposite field triple. Two batters later J.C. Rodriguez ripped a RBI double.
 
Marauders starter Pedro Vasquez pitched seven innings and took the loss.
 
Crismatt allowed the leadoff batter to reach safely in five consecutive innings. However, two double plays and a caught stealing got him out of trouble in three of the innings. He retired the final eighth batters he faced, five on strikeouts.
 
McGeorge was credited with his first save of the season.
 
Rodriguez went 2 for 3 with two doubles and a walk.
 
The Mets took three out of four games in the series. They finish 2017 with a 4-4 record in Bradenton. Last year in Bradenton they went 0-10.
 
The Mets (23-25) return to First Data Field on Friday to take on the Clearwater Threshers. First pitch is 6:30 p.m.