The St. Lucie Mets have the best record in all of pro baseball, so it's no surprise they lead the Florida State League in virtually every statistical category. Even on the rare days the team doesn't win, the depth in starting pitching has been evident.

Angel Cuan allowed one hit over 6 1/3 shutout innings, but didn't factor into the decision after the bullpen was unable to hold on to the lead in the Class A Advanced Mets' 2-1 loss to the Lakeland Flying Tigers.

Cuan, pitching for the first time since being used out of the bullpen for three innings on May 9, struck out three and walked two batters.

Dixon Machado recorded the lone single against the 22-year-old to lead off the fourth inning, but the 5-foot-11 native of Panama stranded him in scoring position by retiring the next three batters.

Ryan Fraser replaced Cuan -- signed as a non-drafted free agent in 2007 -- with one out in the seventh inning. But Lakeland scratched across a pair of runs on four hits to deny Cuan his fourth win of the season.

In seven games, including six starts, Cuan has a 2.37 ERA and he has held hitters to a .225 average. He has not allowed more than four runs in any outing, and in five of his appearances he has allowed two runs or fewer.

All but one of the Mets' regular starting pitchers has won at least three games, and among them only one -- Yohan Almonte, who is 3-0 -- has an ERA above 3.25. St. Lucie also leads the league in shutouts (seven) and saves (19) and only the Brevard County Manatees (11) have allowed fewer homers (13).

St. Lucie fell to 34-9 with the loss, but still holds a 12.5-game lead atop the Florida State League South Division.

The team's 2.64 ERA is almost a full run lower than the league average (3.60) and it ranks second in the Minors behind only Class A Lansing (2.48).