Mets Beat Marlins, Overtake Them in Wild Card Chase
The Mets have overtaken the Marlins in the Wild Card chase after beating them for the second straight night on Tuesday. Now it’s just the Pirates and Cardinals in the way.
Seth Lugo allowed a two-run homer to Christian Yelich in the first inning as the Marlins jumped out to an early lead.
But the Mets got the runs back, and then some, in the bottom of the first. After Jose Reyes reached on an infield single, Asdrubal Cabrera connected for a two-run homer of his own to tie the game. Cabrera now has four home runs in his last five games. Jay Bruce doubled and scored on a Wilmer Flores single to give the Mets a 3-2 lead.
The Mets missed a chance to capitalize on Marlins catcher J.T. Realmuto’s incompetence. With two outs, Alejandro De Aza struck out. But the ball got away from Realmuto. He took his sweet time getting to it and De Aza beat the throw to first. Flores then doubled off the wall, missing a homer by inches. The Marlins intentionally walked James Loney to load the bases. Rene Rivera hit a slow roller down the third base line. Martin Prado made a barehanded play and just got Rivera at first to end the inning.
The Mets did score two in the sixth, but they could have scored more. Curtis Granderson, pinch-hitting for Lugo, led off the inning with his 21st home run of the year. Reyes, who had four hits on the night, doubled. Cabrera walked and they both advanced on a wild pitch. After Cespedes grounded out, Bruce was intentionally walked to load the bases. De Aza singled to right to score Reyes to make it 5-2. But for some reason, third base coach Tim Teufel waved the gimpy Cabrera in against the arm of Jeff Francoeur. Cabrera thought better of it and stopped, but by that time Bruce was on third. Cabrera was tagged for the second out. Flores flied out to end the inning.
Lugo turned in six fine innings, allowing two runs on five hits. He struck out for and walked one.
Granderson added his 22nd homer of the season in the seventh, a two-run shot to extend the Mets lead to 7-2.
Jim Henderson allowed two runs in the night inning, and with two outs, Jeurys Familia came in for the save situation Henderson created. He nailed it down on three pitches, picking up his 43rd save and tying his own Mets record (set last year and tied with Armando Benitez).
Mets win 7-4. They go for the sweep Wednesday night.