Rally Falls Short as Mets Lose 5-3 to Miracle
Published on July 4, 2015 under Florida State League (FSL1)
St. Lucie Mets News Release
FORT MYERS, FL - A furious rally by the St. Lucie Mets fell short as the Fort Myers Miracle beat the Mets 5-3 on Saturday at Hammond Stadium.
The Mets trailed 5-0 with two outs and the bases empty in the ninth. They managed to score three runs and put the tying run on first base before the rally fizzled out.
Colton Plaia knocked an RBI single to make it 5-1. An error on Tanner Vavra loaded the bases and brought up Jeff McNeil as the tying run. McNeil hit a two-run single on the first pitch from reliever Todd Van Steensel to make it 5-3.
With McNeil on first base as the tying run, Jairo Perez grounded to first baseman Bryan Haar who flipped to Van Steensel covering the bag for the final out of the game.
Miracle starter Mat Batts shut out the Mets over six innings and only allowed two singles while striking out six.
Mets starter Kevin McGowan was tagged for all five runs on 10 hits in 6.1 innings in the loss.
Chad Christensen got the scoring started with a two-out RBI single against McGowan in the second. The Miracle took a 2-0 lead when Haar grounded into a double play to plate a run in the fourth.
An RBI sac fly by Engelb Vielma made it 3-0 in the fifth.
Zack Granite started the seventh with a triple, and as he went to third base the relay throw from Phil Evans bounced off Granite's helmet and the ball went into the Miracle dugout. Granite was awarded home on the throwing error to make it 4-0.
Ryan Walker hit a two-out RBI single up the middle against reliever Julian Hilario later in the seventh to put the Miracle up 5-0.
The Mets only managed six singles in the game. Victor Cruzado had two of the hits.
Van Steensel earned his 10th save. He cleaned up a mess left by Tyler Jay, the Minnesota Twins' first round draft pick in June. Jay started the ninth inning.
The Mets (40-40, 5-5) and Miracle (44-36, 6-4) continue their series at Hammond Stadium on Sunday. First pitch is at 4:05 p.m. and the game can be heard on www.stluciemets.com.
Florida State League Stories from July 4, 2015
- Batts Deals, Miracle Fend off Late Mets Rally, 5-3 - Fort Myers Mighty Mussels
- Rally Falls Short as Mets Lose 5-3 to Miracle - St. Lucie Mets
- T-Yanks Beat 'Tugas, 2-0, in 6 Innings - Tampa Yankees
- Three-Game Win Streak Snapped - Daytona Tortugas
- Bradenton gets past Jupiter - Bradenton Marauders
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