CLEARWATER, Fla. - Mitch Walding reached base three times on Friday, including his career-high 10th home run of the season, but the Clearwater Threshers came up short in the series opener in falling 3-2 to the St. Lucie Mets.

Walding crushed a two-run shot on a line to right in the fourth inning, pulling the Threshers (8-8) to within one. He finished 1-for-2 on the evening with two walks, pushing his team-high total to 37. Walding's .357 on-base percentage ranks second amongst Threshers regulars this season.

Scott Kingery singled in the fifth inning, extending his on-base streak to 19 consecutive games. The streak began on June 16, and the 22-year-old has raised his average 25 points over the course of that stretch, up to .288.

St. Lucie (9-6) did its damage in the third inning, after Vinny Sienna singled and Kevin Taylor drew a two-out walk against Ranfi Casimiro (7-6). Tomas Nido got the Mets on the board by knocking a double to left, and Wuilmer Becerra followed with a single through the left side that scored two more, putting St. Lucie ahead, 3-0.

Andrew Church (2-1) held the Threshers hitless through the front three innings, before Kyle Martin pulled a single to right-center with two down in the fourth.

Walding followed by jumping on the first pitch and slamming a no-doubter out to right, cutting the deficit to 3-2.

The Threshers bullpen quieted things down and kept Clearwater in the ballgame, as Matt Hockenberry and Victor Arano teamed up for 4.2 scoreless innings. The two right-handers would permit just two baserunners total the rest of the way.

Clearwater will look to even the score on Saturday, as the Threshers battled the Mets on Bark at the Park Night with first pitch at 6:15 p.m. Shane Watson (3-3) takes the hill opposite PJ Conlon (2-0), and the game will be broadcast live on the Threshers Broadcast Network beginning at 6 p.m.