Tampa 4, St. Lucie 1

This time, there was no ninth-inning rally. There was no convincing performance from the Mets’ starting pitcher. Instead, St. Lucie permitted three runs before recording the third out of the game and was unable to rally back in a 4-1 defeat to Tampa at Tradition Field on Tuesday night, its third loss in the past four games.

Domingo Tapia, who has become a weak link in the Mets’ stellar rotation as the season has progressed, was charged with four runs on four hits and two walks with five strikeouts over six innings. He faced seven batters during the Yankees’ three-run first as the outing quickly appeared to have the makings of his third straight start failing to complete at least two innings.

But Tapia (2-7) battled back after the first and permitted just one baserunner over the next three innings before Tampa scored its final run in the fifth. He retired the side in order during the second and fourth innings, garnering a swinging strikeout in each frame. Still, the 21-year-old has not won a game since April 20, a stunning span of 13 starts.

St. Lucie (57-45) got a run back in the second inning when catcher Kevin Plawecki plated Cory Vaughn with a single to center field. Vaughn, playing in his seventh game with the Mets, drew a walk after Dustin Lawley struck out to open the inning. He then advanced to second after a wild pitch by Yankees starter Rafael De Paula and reached third on his third stolen base.

However, St. Lucie would not draw any closer and was held to fewer than three runs for the fourth time in the past five games. On Monday night, the Mets plated two runs in the bottom of the ninth inning to stun Tampa, but were unable to recreate that magic and are now locked in a three-way tie for first place in the Florida State League South Division.

St. Lucie will attempt to climb back into the win column when it sends Matthew Bowman (6-2, 2.42) to the hill for Wednesday’s game against Jairo Heredia (0-0, 2.08), who is making just his second start of the season with the Yankees.

Key Stats

Kyle Johnson: 1-for-4, 1 2B

Kevin Plawecki: 1-for-3, 1 BB, 1 RBI

Cory Vaughn: 0-for-3, 1 BB, 1 R, 1 SB

Matt Reynolds: 1-for-4, 1 2B

Domingo Tapia: 6 IP, 4 H, 2 BB, 4 ER, 5 K

Angel Cuan: 2 IP, 0 H, 1 BB, 0 ER, 0 K

Bret Mitchell: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 BB, 0 ER, 2 K