Mets hold off Hammerheads, win 8-7

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (Sept. 15, 2021) – The St. Lucie Mets staved off a furious rally by the Jupiter Hammerheads to win 8-7 on Wednesday afternoon at Clover Park.

The Mets entered the series needing to win five of six against Jupiter to win the Low-A Southeast East Division. The Mets have won the first two games. They now need to win three of the last four, while Jupiter just needs a 2-2 split to take the East.

The Mets broke a 3-3 tie by scoring five runs in the bottom of the fourth. Omar De Los Santos hit a go-ahead RBI ground rule double. Rowdey Jordan then bashed a two-run single to make it a 6-3 lead.

An error and sac fly tacked on two more runs for the Mets in the inning.

Jupiter scored twice in the seventh inning on a Jose Salas RBI single and Cody Morissette sac fly to cut its deficit to 8-5.

The Hammerheads scored two runs in the top of the ninth. Morissette clubbed a RBI double and Victor Mesa, Jr. hit a long sac fly to bring home the second run and move the tying run to third base.

Mets reliever Grant Hartwig got Paul McIntosh to line out to first baseman Jeremy Vasquez to end the game, stranding Osiris Johnson at third base.

Junior Santos (6-6) got the win for the Mets. He logged 6.0 inning and scattered nine hits while allowing five runs.

Chris Mokma (2-7) took the loss. The Mets knocked him around for eight runs (six earned) and nine hits over 3.2 innings.

Corey Oswalt (knee) made his second MLB rehab start. He pitched a scoreless first inning.

Jeffrey Colon tossed a scoreless eighth inning and Hartwig hung on in the ninth for his second save in four days.

De Los Santos, Kevin Kendall and Jeremy Vasquez had two hits each for the Mets.

The Mets (58-54) and Hammerheads (60-54) play the third game of their series at Clover Park on Thursday. First pitch is scheduled for 6:10 p.m. It is the final Dollar Night of the season. Fans can enjoy $1 Bud and Bud Light (8 oz. cans), $1 hot dogs, $1 soda and $1 popcorn.