Mets play sharp, down Tarpons 7-3

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (June 5, 2019) - The St. Lucie Mets improved to 6-1 against the Tampa Tarpons this season by winning Wednesday' game at First Data Field by a score of 7-3.
Blake Tiberi and Carlos Cortes homered in the win. Mets starting pitcher Tony Dibrell fired 5.1 shutout innings to lower his ERA to 2.05. Blake Taylor retired all six batters he faced to polish off the eighth and ninth innings.
Tiberi laced a two-out solo home run in the third inning, his first of the season, to give the Mets a 1-0 lead.
Yoel Romero and Tiberi hit back-to-back RBI singles in the fifth inning against Tampa starter Janson Junk to make it 3-0. Tiberi hustled all the way home from second base on Carlos Cortes' ground ball later in the fourth to give the Mets a 4-0 advantage.
Tarpons third baseman Angel Aguilar got his team back in the game with a three-run homer off of Carlos Hernandez in the top of the seventh. Hernandez settled down to retire the next three batters to preserve the 4-3 lead.
The Mets got all three runs back in the bottom of the seventh. Jacob Zanon poked a two-run single and Carlos Cortes followed with a home run, his fifth of the season, to make it 7-3.
Dibrell scattered five hits in over his 5.1 innings. He walked three and struck out five.
Tiberi went 2 for 3 with two RBI and two runs scored.
Zanon went 2 for 4 with two RBI.
Romero, who was added from extended spring training to replace the injured Cody Bohanek, was making his St. Lucie debut. He went 2 for 3 with a RBI and two runs scored along with a handful of excellent defensive plays at second base.
The Mets (29-29) and Tarpons (24-34) conclude their four-game series at First Data Field on Thursday. It is Dollar Night with $1 beer (8 oz. cans of Bud and Bud Light), $1 hot dogs, $1 soda and $1 popcorn. First pitch is 6:30 p.m.