TAMPA, Fla. (Interstat) — The Tampa Tarpons scored two runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to defeat the St. Lucie Mets 7-6 in the first game of a doubleheader Wednesday evening at George M. Steinbrenner Field.

Both teams collected eight hits in the eight-inning contest. St. Lucie took a 1-0 lead in the third on a groundout by Edward Lantigua. Tampa answered with two runs in the fifth, keyed by a triple from Santiago Gomez and a sacrifice fly by Luis Durango.

The Mets struck back with four runs in the sixth. Julio Zayas singled in two runs and JT Benson followed with a two-run homer to put St. Lucie ahead 6-3. Tampa pulled within 6-4 in the bottom half on a groundout by JoJo Jackson.

Durango singled in a run in the seventh to make it 6-5. Benson’s sacrifice fly in the top of the eighth gave the Mets a 7-5 lead, but Tampa rallied in the bottom half. Engelth Urena singled to score Kevin Verde and Bryce Martin-Grudzielanek lined a single to drive in Urena for the walk-off win.

Parker Seay (2-0) earned the victory. Elwis Mijares (2-1) took the loss. St. Lucie fell to 11-12; Tampa improved to 9-13.