The New York Mets (51-45) were defeated by the Miami Marlins (53-44) by a score of 7-2 at Marlins Park Saturday evening. With a Washington Nationals win, the Mets will fall to six games back for the division lead.
Pitching:
Jacob deGrom was coming off arguably the best start of his entire career heading into tonight. On the surface, this looked like one of the best pitching matchups of the season as deGrom squared off against Marlins ace Jose Fernandez. Well, deGrom just didn’t have it tonight. deGrom only lasted 3.2 innings giving up five runs while walking one, and striking out five.
In the bottom of the second inning, the Marlins got things started. After two quick outs for deGrom, Adeiny Hechavarria doubled on a line drive to center fielder Juan Lagares. For some reason, deGrom has struggled against opposing pitchers lately and Jose Fernandez ripped a single into left field to score the early run and give the Marlins a 1-0 lead.
After the Mets had just taken the lead 2-1 in the top of the inning, deGrom struggled again in the bottom of the third. Christian Yelich singled to start the inning on a play that was deflected off James Loney. Who else but Giancarlo Stanton followed by launching a monster home run that may have gone over the Marlins scoreboard to put the Marlins right back on top 3-2.
In the bottom of the fourth inning, Jose Fernandez started the Marlins off again with another single to left field. deGrom was able to retire J.T. Realmuto and Martin Prado but Christian Yelich followed with a single to put runners on the corners with two out. After Collins tried to settle deGrom down, Giancarlo Stanton came up and killed the Mets yet again by lacing a single into right field to put the Marlins up 4-2. That would be all for deGrom.
Seth Lugo came in and tried to clean up the damage but was pretty terrible himself. All Lugo did was walk two straight batters on eight straight balls to give the Marlins a 5-2 lead before finally getting out of the inning.
In the bottom of the fifth inning, the Marlins added another run on Seth Lugo. Martin Prado singled in Adeiny Hechavarria to give the Marlins a 6-2 lead.
Antonio Bastardo came on in the bottom of the sixth inning and was able to pitch 2 innings tonight. The Marlins were able to score a run off of him as well. Martin Prado once again picked up an RBI by hitting a single to left field that scored Chris Johnson and gave the Marlins a 7-2 lead.
Jerry Blevins and Erik Goeddel were able to combine for a scoreless eighth.
Offense:
There wasn’t much offense to speak of tonight. The Mets showed a little bit of life early and seemed to have Fernandez against the ropes a couple times but it wasn’t nearly enough.
In the top of the third inning, Jacob deGrom lead off the inning with a double to right field. After Jose Reyes popped out, Curtis Granderson was able to single and put runners on the corners with one out. Yoenis Cespedes followed with a bloop single to score the Mets first run of the game and send Granderson to third. Still with only one out, James Loney was able to hit a sacrifice fly and bring Granderson home to give the Mets the 2-1 lead.
That would be all for the Mets offense tonight.
Notes:
Ichiro Suzuki will remain four hits shy of 3,000 hits after grounding out in the eighth inning.
Alejandro De Aza has reached base in 12 of his last 25 plate appearances.
Michael Conforto got his first action in center field tonight as he came in to replace Juan Lagares.
Lucas Duda hopes to begin a rehab assignment in two weeks.
Tonight marked the 40th time this season that the Mets have scored two or fewer runs in a game. Only the Braves have done it more times.
JZ Goat of the game: Jacob deGrom. He just didn’t have it tonight and couldn’t even make it through four innings. Honorable mention goes to the entire Mets offense. They continue to come up flat with runners in scoring position.
On Deck:
The Mets will play the rubber game of their three-game set with the Miami Marlins at Marlins Park tomorrow afternoon. The game has a start time of 1:10 PM. Steven Matz (7-6, 3.56 ERA) looks to take the rubber match against Jose Urena (1-1, 6.23 ERA).
