Mets Salvage Final Game of Marlins Series

The Mets salvaged the final game of their series with the Marlins, as the offense provided just enough to back up another fine pitching performance.

The Mets blew an opportunity to score in the fourth. Three singles loaded the bases with one out, but Wilmer Flores fouled out and Asdrubal Cabrera struck out.

Logan Verrett, getting the spot start, kept the Marlins off the board in his six innings. He allowed just three hits, striking out six and walking two. He was pulled from the game after 85 pitches, Terry Collins apparently not wanting to push him further.

So Jim Henderson started the seventh inning. After throwing 34 pitches and taking the loss last night, Henderson definitely didn’t have it this afternoon. He allowed a single and two walks to load the bases. Hansel Robles came in and struck out Miguel Rojas and Derek Dietrich for the first two outs. Despite Robles’s dominance, Collins decided to play the lefty-lefty game and brought in Jerry Blevins to face Dee Gordon. The first three pitches were balls and Gordon hit a long foul ball that was nearly a grand slam, but on a full count, Gordon flied out to end the inning.

Marlins starter Adam Conley also exited after six shutout innings, with Dustin McGowan taking over in the seventh. Wilmer Flores, making his first start at first base, led off with a single. He moved to second on a wild pitch. Cabrera singled to right, with Flores stopping at third. Juan Lagares grounded back to the pitcher. He checked Flores at third, but then threw to first instead of second. So the Mets had runners on second and third with one out. Kevin Plawecki singled through the drawn in infield to score both runs. He was thrown out trying to go to second, but the Mets had the 2-0 lead.

Blevins allowed a one-out single in the eighth and was removed for Jeurys Familia, who was asked to get a five-out save. He got the first out, but then allowed two singles as the Marlins cut the lead to 2-1. A comebacker ended the inning.

The Mets were hoping to pad the lead in the ninth, but with runners on first and second with one out, David Wright got doubled off second on a line drive.

So Familia had to protect a one-run lead in his second inning of work. And he did, retiring the side in order.

The Mets snap a four-game losing streak and improve to 3-5 with a 2-1 win.