Bradenton 6, St. Lucie 4

On a team loaded with fresh faces, a familiar name carried the St. Lucie Mets on Monday. Although, if outfielder Dustin Lawley continues his recent offensive surge, he could become the latest player to transfer out of south Florida.

Lawley went 4-for-6 — his sixth multi-hit performance in the past eight games — and delivered a game-tying two-run homer in the eighth inning before the Mets ultimately fell to visiting Bradenton 6-4 in 12 innings. The 24-year-old also added a double and two singles while driving in two runs, pushing him into third place for the most RBI in the Florida State League (55).

Three other St. Lucie players had multiple hits, including new catcher Kevin Plawecki, who continues to impress at the advanced level and tallied three singles to raise his batting average to .304 after five games with the club. First baseman Jayce Boyd effectively responded to a move to the No. 3 spot in the lineup, finishing 2-for-6 with an RBI and a run scored.

But Mets starter Alex Panteliodis could not preserve a 2-1 lead and was charged with three runs in the sixth inning. Overall, he gave up four runs on eight hits and a walk to go along with three strikeouts over six innings in a no-decision. The southpaw is now winless in his past four starts — including three straight no-decisions — and is carrying a 3.44 ERA.

After the Marauders scored two runs in the top of the 12th inning off Randy Fontanez (5-6), the Mets threatened in the bottom half but Charley Thurber struck out with runners on second and third. Lawley led off the inning with a ground-rule double, his 20th of the season.

Since opening the second half of the season with five consecutive wins, St. Lucie has tumbled to a three-game losing skid and left a whopping 13 runners on base Monday, going 1-for-10 with men in scoring position. Tim Byrdak, who is working his way back to the majors following shoulder surgery, made his season debut in relief of Panteliodis and fired a perfect seventh inning with a strikeout.

Starting pitcher Rainy Lara (1-2, 2.59 ERA) will attempt to put the Mets back into the win column Tuesday when he makes his fifth start with the team. In his previous start, the right-hander allowed three runs and seven hits over five innings — his shortest outing with St. Lucie — against Charlotte on June 19.

Key Stats

T.J. Rivera: 2-for-6, 1 R

Jayce Boyd: 2-for-6, 1 R, 1 RBI

Dustin Lawley: 4-for-6, 1 2B, 1 HR, 2 RBI

Kevin Plawecki: 3-for-6

Cam Maron: 2-for-4

Alex Panteliodis: 6 IP, 8 H, 1 BB, 4 ER, 3 K

Chasen Bradford: 2 IP, 2 H, 0 BB, 0 ER, 4 K