De La Cruz Robs Clearwater, Lifts Mets to 10-4 Win
Published on August 5, 2014 under Florida State League (FSL1)
St. Lucie Mets News Release
CLEARWATER, Fla. (August 4, 2014) - Maikis De La Cruz and the St. Lucie Mets stunned the Clearwater Threshers with a 10-4 win on Monday at Bright House Field.
At the plate, De La Cruz went 4 for 6 with three RBIs and two runs scored. It was his first four-hit game of the season.
But it was his glove that did the most damage. With the Mets leading 7-4 with two outs in the bottom of the eighth, De La Cruz reached over the wall in left field to rob Brandon Short of a game-tying three-run homer.
Short, a pinch hitter, swung at the first pitch from the lefty T.J. Chism. The Threshers and their fans were ready to celebrate, but De La Cruz emphatically raised his glove to the umpires showing he had hauled the ball in.
The shocked Threshers committed two errors in the ninth and the Mets scored three more runs. Two came on a single from De La Cruz that made it 10-4.
Domingo Tapia earned the win. He held the Threshers to seven hits and four runs, three earned, in 5 1/3 innings. He retired the first nine batters he faced.
Dario Alvarez kept the Mets in front 5-4 when he picked Harold Martinez off of first and got Gabriel Lino to fly out to end the sixth with the tying run on third.
The Mets expanded their lead to 7-4 on L.J Mazzilli's RBI double and Albert Cordero's RBI single in the seventh.
The Mets jumped out to a 3-0 lead. De La Cruz doubled home Jeff McNeil in the first and Mazzilli's RBI ground out later in the inning plated De La Cruz. Cordero beat out a double play ball in the third to bring home a run in the third.
However, the Threshers tied the game 3-3 in the fourth. Martinez's RBI single plated Angelo Mora and Gilbert Gomez misplayed the hit into center field and Brian Pointer scored to tie it.
The Mets responded quickly in the fifth. McNeil scored on Roman Quinn's error in center and Gavin Cecchini lifted a sac fly to bring in De La Cruz to make it 5-3. The Mets led the rest of the way.
Mazzilli went 2 for 4 with a double, two runs and two RBIs.
Cole Frenzel had two hits, including a solo home run in the ninth.
McNeil went 2 for 5 with two runs scored.
Nic Hanson took the loss for the Threshers. He gave up six hits and five runs, four earned, in four innings.
The Mets (62-48, 22-19) took three out of four from the Threshers in the series. The Mets won seven of the eight meetings in the season series.
The Mets will enjoy Tuesday off and return to Tradition Field for a six-game home stand starting on Wednesday against Fort Myers. First pitch against the Miracle is at 6:30 p.m.
Florida State League Stories from August 5, 2014
- 'Tees Eight Hits Not Enough in 5-2 Loss to Tampa - Brevard County Manatees
- Tyrone Taylor and Tyler Wagner honored by Brewers for July - Brevard County Manatees
- Double Header August 6 - Tampa Yankees
- Fan Appreciation Night August 23 - Tampa Yankees
- De La Cruz Robs Clearwater, Lifts Mets to 10-4 Win - St. Lucie Mets
- Marauders Home August 6-8, Doubleheader August 7 - Bradenton Marauders
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