St. Lucie Mets Game Recap: Tarpons rally in 9th, win 7-5 to hand St-L Mets 7th straight loss

 

Simon Juan, Photo courtesy of the St. Lucie Mets

Tampa scores 3 runs in last inning to spoil St. Lucie’s bid to snap skid

Box Score

 

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (July 2, 2026) – The Tampa Tarpons scored three runs in the top of the ninth to defeat the St. Lucie Mets 7-5 on Thursday night at Clover Park. The Mets losing streak extended to seven games. The Tarpons won their sixth straight contest.

 

The Mets, who had been shut out 6-0 in the first two games of the series, took a 5-4 lead to the top of the ninth. Engelth Urena led off the inning with a double off Zack Mack. Pinch runner Isael Arias stole third base and scored to tie the game 5-5 when catcher Chase Meggers’ throw sailed down the left field line.

 

Hans Montero singled with one out. Luis Puello then hit a RBI double to left field to bring home Montero for a 6-5 lead. Puello would later score on a two-out throwing error by shortstop Elian Peña to boost the Tarpons lead to 7-5.

 

The Mets threatened in the bottom of the ninth with one out and two runners on base but J.T. Etheridge got Taylor Darden to hit into a game-ending 4-6-3 double play.

 

Etheridge pitched the final four innings without giving up a run to get the win.

 

The game went back-and-forth early. Bryce Martin-Grudzielanek put Tampa up 2-0 with a two-out, two-run single in the first inning. Peña scored in the bottom of the first inning on an errant pickoff throw by Tarpons starter Wyatt Parliament to make it 2-1.

 

Simon Juan slugged a two-run homer in the fourth inning to give the Mets their first lead of the series, 3-2.

 

The Tarpons scored twice in the fifth inning against Mets reliever Joel Lara on a Montero RBI double to tie the game and a bases loaded walk drawn by David McCann to give the Tarpons a 4-3 lead.

 

Trey Snyder and Antonio Jimenez hit back-to-back two-out RBI doubles in the bottom of the fifth to tie the game then give the Mets a 5-4 lead.

 

After the Jimenez double the next 18 batters in the game were retired. Mets first baseman Julio Zayas finally ended the streak with a two-out triple in the bottom of the eighth inning but Etheridge stranded him.

 

Juan, Zayas and Snyder each went 2 for 4 in the loss.

 

Mets reliever Miguel Mejias pitched two perfect innings with four strikeouts.

 

The Mets (2-8, 35-41) and Tarpons (9-3, 44-34) play the fourth game of their series at Clover Park on Friday. It is the annual gigantic pre-Independence fireworks extravaganza at the ballpark, immediately following the game. Fans can purchase tickets in person at the box office or online at stluciemets.com. First pitch is 6:10 p.m.

Juan Gone! Juan Gone! Simon Juan hits his 6th HR of the season for the St. Lucie Mets on Thursday Night. #Mets @SyracuseMets @RumblePoniesBB @BKCyclones @stluciemets @ernestdove @FarmToFlushing @bkfan09 @WexlerRules @ImAriBeRKO @draftniks @TheBaseballHut @bronxfanatic… pic.twitter.com/AUbiUzXWQu

— Mets News and Links (@JohnFromAlbany) July 2, 2026

Trey Snyder doubles, and we are tied! pic.twitter.com/iOGr7HUUGN

— St. Lucie Mets (@stluciemets) July 3, 2026

Back-to-back doubles! The bats are hot! pic.twitter.com/CasiNQCbOd

— St. Lucie Mets (@stluciemets) July 3, 2026

Joel Lara👏

4 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 7 K pic.twitter.com/5K7xZ8lgLf

— St. Lucie Mets (@stluciemets) July 3, 2026

Zayas turning on the jets! pic.twitter.com/vv6TRw8jOR

— St. Lucie Mets (@stluciemets) July 3, 2026