FORT MYERS, Fla. – The St. Lucie Mets staved off the Fort Myers Miracle, 7-5, at Hammond Stadium on Saturday night in front of 2,344 fans. The scoring started in the top of the third inning with one out. Miracle starter Ethan Mildren issued a walk to Victor Cruzado and then committed a throwing error on a pick-off attempt that advanced Cruzado to second. After striking out Ruiz, Mildren (0-2) surrendered a soft single into center field by Jeff McNeil to score the first run of the game, 1-0. In the bottom of the third, the Miracle answered with Jason Kanzler’s second home run in as many games. Kanzler sent a 1-1 pitch from Mets starter Logan Taylor over the wall in right field for his second home run of the season to pull the Miracle even, 1-1. St. Lucie surged ahead again in the fourth. Mets No. 5 prospect Michael Conforto launched a solo home run to deep center field to put the visitors up 2-1. The inning could have been worse for the Miracle. With the bases loaded, Jhoan Urena hit a ground ball to Aderling Mejia at second base. Attempting to start a double play, Mejia flipped to Engelb Vielma for the force out at second base, but Vielma’s throw pulled Swim off the bag at first and a run scored. Then, field umpire Ben Levin ruled that Vielma was interfered with by the runner, Ahmed Rosario, and two outs were put on the board. The Mets also had a run erased as runners went back to second and third. St. Lucie manager Luis Rojas was ejected for arguing the play. Fort Myers took its only lead of the night in the bottom of the fourth. Taylor loaded the bases with a pair of walks and a base hit by Alex Swim, then struck out Chad Christensen. Kanzler then drove in his second run of the game with a bases loaded walk and Vielma followed with a sacrifice fly to put the Miracle up 3-2. In the fifth, the Mets would take the lead for good. With one out, Mildren walked Ruiz then balked him to second base. McNeil sliced a single into right field and Ruiz scored to knot the game at 3-3. After a Conforto single, Matt Oberste connected on a 1-0 pitch from Miracle reliever Alex Muren and deposited a three-run homer into left for a 6-3 St. Lucie lead. The Miracle chipped away with a RBI fielder’s choice in the sixth from Vielma and a run-scoring double off Christensen’s bat in the eighth, but could not scratch even with the Mets. Colton Plaia delivered a sacrifice fly for St. Lucie’s seventh run in the top of the eighth. Mildren exited after 4.1 innings and five runs allowed, four earned. Taylor received a no decision for th Mets after four innings and three runs surrendered on four hits with four walks and three stirkeouts. Kelly Secrest picked up the victory out of the bullpen. Secrest (1-0) tossed two frames and gave up a run. Muren went 1.2 innings out of the Miracle pen with only one run charged on one hit. Brian Gilbert yielded a run in two innings and Madison Boer struck out the side in the ninth. The Miracle (4-6) and Mets (6-4) face off in the series rubber match at 4:05 p.m. on a Dairy Queen Sunday at Hammond Stadium. Fans can pick up complimentary tickets at local DQ locations in Lee and Collier counties and upgrade to a box seat for just $2. For tickets and information, call (239) 768-4210.