Mets Dominate on Mound, Defeat Hammerheads 2-1
Published on August 30, 2024 under Florida State League (FSL)
St. Lucie Mets News Release
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. - The St. Lucie Mets received a dominant performance from their pitching staff in a 2-1 victory over the Jupiter Hammerheads on Friday night at Clover Park. The Mets are up 3-1 in the current series.
The four Mets pitchers - Saul Garcia, Kyle Crick, Wellington Aracena and Juan Arnaud - combined for 17 strikeouts and just two walks.
The Hammerheads scored their only run in the second inning on a wild pitch by Garcia that brought home Eric Rataczak from third base for a 1-0 Jupiter lead.
Eli Serrano launched a 403-foot home run to lead off the bottom of the second against Jake Brooks to tie the game 1-1.
Garcia needed 53 pitches to gut through 2.0 innings of one-run ball. Kyle Crick (calf) took over in the third inning on a MiLB rehab assignment. He retired the side in order on six pitches.
Jacob Jenkins-Cowart started the fourth inning with a single off Crick. A wild pitch immediately moved Jenkins-Cowart to second base. But Crick recovered to get Rataczak to ground out. That started a run of 18 consecutive batters retired by Mets pitching to end the game.
Aracena replaced Crick in the fifth inning and proceeded to sit down all nine batters he faced, including six on strikeouts. Aracena was credited with the win.
The Mets broke the 1-1 tie in the sixth inning. Marco Vargas hit a one-out double and Nick Roselli poked a two-out RBI single off Delvis Alegre to bring home Vargas for a 2-1 lead.
Juan Arnaud struck out all six batters he faced in the eighth and ninth innings to protect the one-run lead and convert the save. Arnaud is now 4 for 4 in save chances this season.
Vargas was 1 for 2 with the double and two walks. He has now drawn two walks in four consecutive games.
A.J. Ewing was 0 for 3 with a walk. His nine-game hitting streak was snapped.
The Mets (21-35, 43-79) and Hammerheads (26-30, 62-60) play the fifth game of their series at Clover Park on Saturday. First pitch is 6:10 p.m. All First Responders can get a free ticket by showing their work ID at the box office.
Florida State League Stories from August 30, 2024
- Michell, Blue Jays Get Back in Win Column - Dunedin Blue Jays
- Not So Friendly Friday: Tarpons Topple Marauders 9-6 - Bradenton Marauders
- Mets Dominate on Mound, Defeat Hammerheads 2-1 - St. Lucie Mets
- Tortugas Tamed in 4-1 Setback - Daytona Tortugas
- Friday's Game Suspended in Second Inning - Clearwater Threshers
- Friday's Mussels-Threshers Game Suspended Due to Field Conditions - Fort Myers Mighty Mussels
- Marauders Topped by Tarpons 6-3 on Thursday Night - Bradenton Marauders
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