Mets falter for first time in extras, lose to Cardinals 7-6 in 10

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (June 19, 2025) – The Palm Beach Cardinals handed the St. Lucie Mets their first extra innings loss of the season with a 7-6 victory in 10 innings on Thursday night at Clover Park.

The Mets had been 4-0 in extras this year. Thursday was the final game of the Florida State League’s first half. The Mets finished the half on a three-game losing streak but still claimed the FSL East with their 7-5 win on Sunday against Daytona. They finished the half with a 34-31 record and were the only team in the East with a winning record.

The Mets stranded a leadoff single by Trey Snyder in the ninth inning and the game headed to the 10^th tied 5-5. Jose Suarez led off the top of the inning with a bloop single off Juan Arnaud to set the Cardinals up with runners at the corners. Yordalin Pena broke the tie with a RBI single into left field that put the Cardinals up 6-5. The next batter Anyelo Encarnacion would bring in a key second run with a RBI ground out to make it 7-5.

The Mets brought home Yohairo Cuevas as the free runner in the bottom of the 10^th but Conor Steinbaugh struck out Nick Roselli to end the game with the tying run on first base.

Snyder went 3 for 4 with three singles and a walk. Colin Houck went 2 for 5 with a double, two RBI and a run.

Frank Elissalt pitched the bulk of the innings for the Mets in relief. He hurled 4.1 innings and allowed one run on three hits with five strikeouts. At one point Elissalt retired 10 in a row.

Arnaud took a tough loss. He allowed one earned run over the final 2.1 innings.

Cardinals reliever Jack Findlay got the win after pitching 3.0 scoreless innings to finish out regulation.

The Mets (34-31) and Cardinals (32-33) play the fourth game of their series at Clover Park on Friday. First pitch is 6:10 p.m. It is night 2 of Military Appreciation Weekend with veterans and active military receiving free admission courtesy of LYNQ Real Estate.