PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (Interstat) — The Tampa Tarpons scored three runs in the ninth inning to defeat the St. Lucie Mets 7-5 on Thursday at Clover Park. J.T. Etheridge earned the win, allowing two hits and no earned runs over four innings with six strikeouts, improving to 7-1. Wyatt Parliament started and gave up four earned runs on seven hits in five innings.

The Tarpons jumped ahead 2-0 in the first on a two-run single by Bryce Martin-Grudzielanek. St. Lucie tied it in the fourth on a two-run homer by Simon Juan, his sixth. Tampa answered with two runs in the fifth, keyed by a Hans Montero double and a walk to David McCann. The Mets cut the lead to 4-3 in the fifth on a Trey Snyder double and an Antonio Jimenez double.

In the ninth, Luis Puello doubled home Montero, then Martin-Grudzielanek reached on a throwing error, allowing Puello to score. Zack Mack took the loss, falling to 2-1. Both teams had nine hits. The Tarpons improved to 44-34, while the Mets dropped to 35-41. Attendance was 1,055, and the game lasted 2 hours, 51 minutes.