Mets erupt in 8th inning again, sink Tortugas 5-1

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (August 3, 2022) – For the second straight game, the St. Lucie Mets put together a big eighth inning to beat the Daytona Tortugas 5-1 on Wednesday at Clover Park.

With the game tied 1-1 entering the bottom of the eighth, the Mets scored four runs against reliever Brett Lockwood. The rally started immediately, as Brady Smith crunched a leadoff double into the left field corner. Omar De Los Santos followed with a go-ahead RBI single to make it 2-1.

The Mets loaded the bases with one out later in the inning and pinch hitter Karell Paz, in his first game for St. Lucie, smashed a bases clearing triple to plate three more runs for a 5-1 lead.

The offensive run support resulted in the first Single-A victory for Mets No. 10 prospect Joel Diaz (1-1). Diaz pitched shutout ball over the final six innings. He gave up just one single and one walk. Diaz struck out six and retired 18 of the 20 batters he faced.

Mets starter Calvin Ziegler, pitching in his first game in nearly two months, walked three batters and allowed one unearned run in the first inning. He struck out the final batter faced before being lifted for Josh Cornielly. Cornielly got the last out of the first to strand the bases loaded, then pitched a scoreless second inning and third inning.

The Mets tied the game 1-1 in the bottom of the third on consecutive two-out hits by William Lugo and Junior Tilien against Daytona starter Javi Rivera.

Rivera pitched well, holding the Mets to one run and two hits over five innings. He walked one and struck out six.

The Mets are now 12-1 at Clover Park vs. the Tortugas and 18-4 overall against Daytona.

The Mets (57-40, 17-15) and Tortugas (38-57, 9-21) play game 3 of their series at Clover Park on Thursday. First pitch is 6:10 p.m. It’s Dollar Night at the ballpark with $1 Bud and Bud Light, $1 soda, $1 popcorn and $2 hot dogs.