Bullpen Fails, Mets Lose to Marlins 7-5

So it appears starting pitching might not be an issue for the Mets in 2013, but the bullpen just might. For the fourth straight game Friday night, the Mets got a solid game from their starter. However, the once again rebuilt bullpen lost it for the Mets as they fell to the lowly Marlins, 7-5.

Jeremy Hefner allowed a solo home run to Greg Dobbs in the second inning. It was the only run Hefner would allow in six innings of work.

Greg Burke came on to pitch the seventh, and he did not fare as well as Hefner, to say the least. Donovan Solano led off by reaching on an error by Ruben Tejada. It was the third error for Tejada on the young season. Austin Kearns walked and Juan Pierre tried to sacrifice. He bunted right back to Burke, who correctly threw to third. But Solano hustled and beat the throw. Placido Polanco singled to score Solano and Kearns to make it 3-0. Scott Rice wasn’t much better — he allowed a sacrifice fly to Dobbs that scored Pierre to extend the Marlins lead to 4-0. Justin Ruggiano and Rob Brantley both doubled to give the Marlins a 6-0 lead.

The  Mets finally made it onto the scoreboard in the bottom of the seventh. Pinch hitter Mike Baxter singled and Jordany Valdespin walked to put runners on first and second with no outs. Daniel Murphy then launched a ball over the Party City Deck in left field. The opposite field homer cut the lead in half, 6-3.

The Mets had a huge opportunity in the eighth. With two outs Marlins reliever A.J. Ramos lost the plate — he walked Tejada and Baxter, and hit Valdespin with a pitch to load the bases. Up came Murphy, fresh off his three-run shot. However this time he grounded out to second to end the threat.

LaTroy Hawkins had another shaky outing, allowing three hits and a run in the ninth that made it 7-3 Marlins. Good Mets defense and poor Marlins baserunning saved Hawkins from giving up more runs.

The Mets made it interesting in the ninth. With one out Marlins closer Steve Cishek walked Ike Davis and pinch hitter Kirk Nieuwenhuis doubled him home to make it 7-4. Duda singled up the middle to drive in Nieuwenhuis to cut the lead to 7-5. Duda advanced to second on a passed ball. But John Buck struck out and pinch hitter Justin Turner grounded out to end the game.

Mets lose 7-5. Stupid bullpen.