Flying Tigers win big again, 11-1, over Mets
Rodriguez goes 2 for 3, reaches base 4x
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (August 19, 2026) – The Lakeland Flying rolled to another big win over the St. Lucie Mets on Wednesday with an 11-1 victory at Clover Park. The Mets have lost five in a row and nine out of 10.
Lakeland slugger Zach MacDonald hit two home runs, bringing his total on the season to 21 which ties Jupiter’s Echedry Vargas for the most in the FSL. Vargas hit five homers against the Mets last week.
MacDonald’s first long ball was a two-run shot in the second inning off Mets starter Ethan Lanthier to put the Flying Tigers up 2-0.
The Flying Tigers doubled their lead to 4-0 when Angel De Los Santos hit a two-run double off reliever Zack Mack in the fourth inning. The runs were charged to Lanthier. De Los Santos scored on a sac fly later in the fourth to make it 5-0.
MacDonald homered in the sixth to increase the Lakeland lead to 6-0.
For the second straight day the Flying Tigers put together a big seventh inning to blow the game open. On Tuesday they scored five runs. On Wednesday it was four runs against Dillon Stiltner. Runs scored on an error, wild pitch, ground out and a RBI single by De Los Santos. Lakeland left the inning with a 10-0 lead.
The Mets scored their only run on a RBI single by Kuhio Aloy in the eighth inning that made it 11-1. The hit snapped an 0 for 36 streak with runners in scoring position for the Mets.
Mets leadoff hitter Jeremy Rodriguez went 2 for 3 with two singles, two walks and two stolen bases. From the end of Tuesday’s game through the first seven innings of Wednesday’s game he reached base seven consecutive times.
Reed Stallman went 2 for 4 with a double. Stallman has doubled in consecutive games.
Lanthier took the loss. He was charged with four runs over 4.1 innings.
Mets position player Julio Zayas came in from the bullpen and got three outs in the ninth to strand an inherited runner and turn in a scoreless appearance. It was his third relief appearance of the last three weeks.
Cameron Flukey, Detroit’s first round draft pick (No. 22 overall), made the second start of his pro career. Flukey pitched 2.0 scoreless innings with one hit and two strikeouts.
Donye Evans followed Flukey for 2.0 scoreless innings and got the win.
De Los Santos went 3 for 6 for the second straight game.
The Mets (17-32, 50-65) and Flying Tigers (24-24, 55-58) play the third game of their series at Clover Park on Thursday. First pitch is 6:10 p.m. It’s Strike Out Hunger Night. Fans who bring five non-perishable food items for the Treasure Coast Food Bank will receive a free ticket. It’s also $2 Night. Fans can enjoy $2 select beer, hot dogs, fountain soda and popcorn.