Mets Blow Lead, Fall to Lowly Marlins

Jeurys Familia got the first start of his major league career Monday night in Miami. He threw an odd game as the last place Marlins came back to beat the Mets.

The strangeness started in the first inning. He walked Bryan Peterson, but Kelly Shoppach threw him out trying to steal second. Gorkys Hernandez singled, but Shoppach threw him out, too. He walked Jose Reyes, but before Reyes had a chance to try to steal and get thrown out, Familia struck out Giancarlo Stanton.

That Hernandez hit would be the only one Familia would allow. But he continued to walk batters, six in all. Familia was lifted for a pinch hitter after just four innings and 75 pitches without allowing a run.

The Mets finally got on the board in the fifth. Ronny Cedeno, hitting for Familia, reached on an error. He moved to second on a sacrifice bunt and moved to third when Daniel Murphy singled. David Wright followed with a single to plate Cedeno to give the Mets a 1-0 lead.

Kelly Shoppach led off the sixth inning with a double. Andres Torres singled to make it first and third. Mike Baxter doubled to score Shoppach to make it 2-0.

For some reason Manny Acosta was allowed to pitch, and he gave up a solo home run to Stanton in the sixth to cut the Mets lead to 2-1.

Jon Rauch came on for the seventh and when he was done the game was tied. Rauch walked Austin Kearns. He advanced to second on a sacrifice and made it to third on a single. He scored on a Jose Reyes sacrifice fly to tie the game at two.

It was Ramon Ramirez’s turn in the eighth. He walked Carlos Lee, then uncorked a wild pitch to advance Lee to second. Rob Brantly doubled to score Lee to give the Marlins a 3-2 lead.

That was the final score. The Mets certainly had their chances — they pounded out 11 hits but came away with only the two runs; they had two runners thrown out at the plate. It’s also hard to overcome nine walks by your pitching staff.