Mets, Tortugas split games on Thursday

PORT ST. LUCIE Fla. (June 8, 2023) – The St. Lucie Mets and Daytona Tortugas split two games at Clover Park on Thursday evening.

The Tortugas won the resumption of Wednesday’s suspended game 7-5. The Mets won the following seven-inning game 3-0.

In the seven-inning game, Mets starting pitcher Layonel Ovalles continued his recent strong run. He pitched 4.0 scoreless innings and allowed just one single and one walk. Ovalles struck out four and recorded a line drive double play. He only faced one batter over the minimum.

Rain and lightning delayed the game for one hour and 15 minutes after the top of the fourth, forcing Ovalles out of the game.

The Mets took command of the game with a three-run second inning against Tortugas starter Ryan Cardona. Kevin Villavicencio drove in a run on an infield single. Jose Hernandez drew a walk to load the bases, then Blaine McIntosh lined a two-run single to put the Mets up 3-0.

When play resumed after the delay, Jimmy Loper took over for Ovalles. He pitched the final 3.0 innings scoreless to complete the shutout. The first two batters of the fifth singled but Loper recovered to strike out three in a row.

Loper retired the side in order in the sixth and pitched around a leadoff walk in the seventh.

Jacob Reimer went 1 for 2 to extend his hitting streak to six games.

In the resumption of Wednesday’s suspension game, Daytona scored six unanswered run to steal a 7-5 win. The Mets entered the restart with a 5-1 lead thanks to three home runs in the bottom of the third on Wednesday, but it was all Daytona on Thursday.

The comeback started with a RBI single by Victor Acosta in the top of the fourth that cut the Mets deficit to 5-2.

The Mets had a chance to score runs of their own in the bottom of the fourth. Wilfredo Lara started the inning with a triple and Jett Williams followed with a walk and stole second base. However, Daytona pitcher Kenya Huggins retired the next three in order without allowing a run.

Cam Collier hit a two-out, two-run single off Saul Garcia in the top of the fifth to make it a 5-4 game.

Hector Rodriguez slugged a two-out, two-run homer in the top of the sixth against Jean Calderon to put the Tortugas ahead 6-5.

The Mets loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the eighth but Easton Sikorski induced an inning-ending double play off the bat of Junior Tilien to keep Daytona in the lead.

Yerlin Confidan added an insurance run with a RBI double in the top of the ninth.

Sikorksi got Kevin Villavicencio to ground into a game-ending double play in the bottom of the ninth.

Lara ended up going 3 for 5 with a single, homer and triple in his first three at-bats. In his bid to get a double to become just the second player in St. Lucie history to hit for a cycle, he struck out in his final two at-bats.

Jacob Reimer, Yeral Martinez and Karell Paz had two hits each in the loss.

The Mets went 0 for 9 with runners in scoring position and stranded 10 runners. The four-run lead was their largest blown lead of the season in a win or loss.

The Mets (18-35) and Tortugas (22-32) play the fourth game of their series at Clover Park on Friday. First pitch is 6:10 p.m.