Mets bats come alive in 11-3 thrashing of Tarpons

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (April 16, 2024) – The St. Lucie Mets made a successful return to Clover Park on Tuesday by blasting the Tampa Tarpons 11-3 in the series opener.

The Mets pounded out a season-high 19 hits. First baseman Chris Suero went 5 for 5 with a RBI and three runs scored. Nick Morabito went 4 for 4 and reached base five times.

All nine players in the Mets lineup collected a hit. Jesus Baez, Ronald Hernandez and Diego Mosquera had two hits each. Baez hit two doubles and leads the Florida State League with five.

Estarling Mercado doubled for the second straight game and reached base four times.

The Mets were quiet early, as the Tarpons held a 2-0 lead through three innings. The Mets had five straight batters reach base in the fourth but only mustered one run on a wild pitch.

The cascade of runs started in the fifth when the Mets scored four times to take over the game. Ronald Hernandez tied the game with a RBI single. Suero singled home the go-ahead run. Morabito scored on the play on an error to make it 4-2. Mosquera beat out an infield single later in the inning to increase the lead to 5-2. The damage was done against Tarpons starter Gabriel Barbosa, who was charged with four runs on eight hits over 4.2 innings.

The Mets scored one run in the sixth, three more in the seventh and two in the eighth to make it five innings in a row producing a run.

Mets starter Kade Morris overcame five hits in the first three innings to keep the Mets in the game. Morris pitched 4.2 innings, scattering six hits and allowing two earned runs in a no-decision.

Wilson Lopez pitched 1.1 scoreless innings to claim the win.

Franklin Gomez struck out the side in the seventh in his season debut. He was promoted to the team from the FCL Mets earlier in the day.

Jimmy Loper pitched the final two innings to close out the game.

The Mets (4-6) and Tarpons (2-8) play the second game of their series at Clover Park on Wednesday. First pitch is scheduled for 1:10 p.m.