After dropping the first two games of a four-game set, the New York Mets picked up a win against the once again floundering Miami Marlins, by a final of 5-3.
Game Recap
The Marlins found themselves in an early hole; by the time they batted in the bottom of the second, they were trailing by three runs. Zach Thompson took the hill for the Marlins and while the stat sheet looks unimpressive, the blame doesn’t all go to him. He pitched four innings and gave up three runs, but only two of them being earned. Jonathan Villar kicked off the offensive fireworks by driving in a run for the Mets on an RBI groundout. It quickly got followed by Javier Baez’s magic baserunning who beat a tag at home to score. That got followed up by Mets pitcher Carlos Carrasco bringing home another run on another Marlins defensive blunder.
Carrasco, along with helping his own cause, pitched adequately with four and a third two-run innings and five strikeouts. Those two runs came in the fifth as Joe Panik and Jazz Chisholm drove in one apiece. Miami then tied it after the Mets’ starter exited the game. Jesus Aguilar then greeted Mets reliever Jeurys Familia with a solo bomb in the sixth. Following a couple of scoreless innings, the Marlins’ bullpen bended and broke come the top of the eighth. Javy Baez was the final straw as he launched a solo bomb to break the tie. Baez also had some words to shout at some Marlins’ players, continuing the bad blood between the two.
Marlins catcher Alex Jackson did not aid the Florida-based team with a passed ball in the same inning. This brought another run in and the Mets took a 5-3 lead. Trevor May slammed the door in the ninth on the Marlins with two strikeouts to pick up the save. And that was all she wrote as the Mets picked up the win.
Errors Will Kill You
The defensive blunders and mishaps doomed the Marlins in this contest as they tied their season record at three errors in the game. While the Marlins are almost, barring miracles, hallelujahs and Hail Marys, totally out of the playoff picture, they could play a potential spoiler. This includes against the Mets, Braves and Phillies who look to make it in via the NL East. Defensive play as Marlins fans watched with cringe will not do that. Instead, it will further push the Marlins into the grave. Make no mistake, they are already firmly in it for this season. All that’s left to play for is pride, and Miami’s defense seems to be fresh out.
What’s Next?
The Marlins will wrap up their four-game set against the first-place Mets on Thursday at 12:00 PM EST. Braxton Garrett will take the mound for Miami, instead of usual starter Trevor Rogers. This is due to Rogers dealing with a family emergency. Veteran starter Rich Hill will take the mound for the Queens-based team. Against Hill, the Marlins look to take three out of four from the Mets.