Late home run sparks Tortugas to 2-0 win over Mets

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (April 25, 2024) – Ariel Almonte broke a scoreless tie with a two-run homer in the bottom of the eighth inning to give the Daytona Tortugas a 2-0 victory over the St. Lucie Mets at Jackie Robinson Ballpark on Thursday night.

Almonte was brought in as a pinch hitter with two outs and a runner at second base. He lined a 1-2 pitch from Austin Troesser over the right field wall for the lead. It was Almonte's FSL-leading fifth home run of the season.

Nestor Lorant worked around a one out single in the top of the ninth to finish the game. He pitched the final 3.0 innings to get the win.

The loss spoiled a tremendous start by the Mets’ Jonah Tong. Tong pitched 6.0 shutout innings and gave up just two hits. He did not walk a batter and struck out nine. In four games this season Tong has pitched 18.2 innings and has not surrendered an earned run. He’s allowed just seven hits and leads the FSL with a whopping 36 strikeouts.

Troesser pitched a 1-2-3 seventh inning before running into trouble in the eighth. He took the loss.

The Mets outhit the Tortugas 5-4 but the Mets went 0 for 6 with runners in scoring position. They had runners on first and second with no outs in the seventh but Lorant struck out Fabian Machado, catcher Connor Burns threw out Chris Suero trying to steal third base and Lorant struck out Estarling Mercado to end the threat.

Suero reached base all four times he came to the plate with two singles and two walks.

Colin Houck went 1 for 3 with a single and a walk.

Daytona starter Adam Serwinowski pitched the first 4.0 innings. He scattered two hits and struck out two. Anyer Laureano followed Serwinowski with 2.0 scoreless innings.

The Mets (8-10) and Tortugas (10-8) play the fourth game of their series at Jackie Robinson Ballpark on Friday. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m.