PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (Interstat) — The Tampa Tarpons aim to continue their dominance over the St. Lucie Mets on Thursday night at Clover Park, with first pitch scheduled for 6:30 p.m. under cloudy skies and 85-degree heat.

Tampa (42-34) has won the first two games of this week’s series by identical 6-0 shutouts, outscoring the Mets 12-0. The Tarpons have won six of their past seven games overall.

St. Lucie (35-39) has lost four consecutive games and nine of its last 11.

The Tarpons’ recent success is due in large part to right-hander Justin West, who is expected to take the mound. West is 4-0 in his last four starts, including a dominant outing Tuesday at St. Lucie: 5 2/3 innings, two hits, no runs, six strikeouts. Over that four-start stretch, he has allowed three earned runs in 18 2/3 innings with 23 strikeouts.

The Mets will counter with reliever Tyler McLoughlin, who has been effective in limited recent outings. McLoughlin threw 1 1/3 scoreless innings Tuesday against Tampa with three strikeouts. He has not allowed an earned run in his last six appearances, covering 7 1/3 innings, while striking out 12.

In Tuesday’s win, Tampa first baseman David McCann went 2-for-2 with a home run and an RBI.

The teams have split their previous two series this season. Tampa took four of seven in April and May, while St. Lucie won three of four from May 1-3.

Interstat’s game simulator projects a 7-4 Tampa victory.

The teams continue their six-game series through Sunday. Tampa then returns home for a six-game set against Clearwater. St. Lucie travels to Jupiter for a six-game road trip.