FSL St. Lucie Mets

Marauders Storm Back to Beat Mets, 8-5

July 25, 2023 - Florida State League (FSL)
St. Lucie Mets News Release


PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. - The Bradenton Marauders stormed back with seven unanswered runs to defeat the St. Lucie Mets 8-5 at Clover Park in the series opener on Tuesday night.

Early in the game the Mets got to struggling starter Hung-Leng Chang, who was making his Single A debut. Chang walked four batters and surrendered five hits. Jett Williams crushed a two-run double in the second inning to put the Mets up 3-1.

Yohairo Cuevas hit a RBI single in the third inning and Chang plunked Karell Paz with the bases loaded to force in another run that put the Mets up 5-1. Sergio Umana replaced Chang with two outs and the bases loaded. Williams sliced a ball deep into the right field corner that was flagged down by Lonnie White, Jr. to prevent the Mets from blowing the game open.

The out recorded by Umana started a great night of relief pitching for Bradenton. Umana, Brandan Bidois and Miguel Fulgencio combined for 6.1 scoreless innings and just two hits allowed. The trio did not walk a batter and struck out five.

Mets starting pitcher Layonel Ovalles was solid over 5.0 innings. He only gave up two runs on a solo home run by Termarr Johnson and a bases loaded ground out by Yordany De Los Santos.

However, Mets reliever Saul Garcia struggled behind Ovalles. Tasked with holding a three-run lead, Garcia was tagged for six runs on three hits over two-plus innings. He walked five and threw four wild pitches, including one that brought home the tying run from third base that made it 5-5.

Malcom Nunez followed the wild pitch by blasting a go-ahead RBI double with two outs in the seventh inning.

Garcia walked the first two Marauders of the eighth inning. Bailey Reid replaced Garcia and Omar Alfonzo hit a two-run single to open up an 8-5 Marauders lead.

Nunez went 3 for 4 with a double, two RBI and two runs in the win.

The Mets had seven different batters record a hit. Williams went 2 for 5 with a double, triple, two RBI and a run.

The Mets (32-58, 8-17) and Marauders (52-38, 17-8) play the second game of their series on Wednesday. It's Camp Day at Clover Park with first pitch scheduled for 11 a.m.




Florida State League Stories from July 25, 2023


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