The Marlins received strong pitching performances on Friday night at loandepot park as they beat the Mets by a 2-1 score. It was throwback night for the Marlins as they dawned their old Florida Marlins pinstripe jerseys and teal hats and helmets in game two of the year.
Friday’s matchup featured two lefty pitchers in 25-year old Jesus Luzardo for the Marlins against 27-year old David Peterson for the visiting Mets.
It was a quiet offensive game for the Mets as the Marlins dominated and out-hit the Mets 10-4. Home runs were the story of this one.
Luzardo retired the Mets in order in the first pumping 99 mph fastballs.
The 2022 American League batting champion Luis Arraez led off the bottom of the first for the Marlins. After a nine pitch at bat, Peterson walked Arráez to put the leadoff batter on. However, Peterson was able to eliminate the runner with a double play. That was then followed by a deep triple to right field by Garrett Cooper and Peterson was again in trouble with a runner on third before getting out of the inning with a ground out of Jazz Chisholm.
The Mets went down in order again in the second as through two innings they struggled to get the offense started.
The Marlins struck first in the bottom half of the second. Peterson gave up a solo home run to the leadoff hitter Soler to give the Marlins an early 1-0 lead over the Mets. Two batters later, with one out, Peterson gave up back-to-back singles to Yuli Gurriel and Nick Fortes to put two runners on. Peterson retired the next two batters he faced to get out of the inning.
The Mets continued to struggle offensively in the third as Luzardo retired the side and the lineup in order one time through it.
Peterson was able to settle down a bit in the bottom of the third. He gave up a one-out single to Cooper, who reached for the second time in the game and was 2-for-2 on the day, but Peterson retired the other three he faced to close out the inning.
The Mets finally showed some life in the top of the fourth as Starling Marte reached with a one-out single. With Francisco Lindor at the plate, Marte was caught stealing before Lindor walked. However, Alonso grounded out to get out of the inning.
Peterson had his first 1-2-3 inning in the bottom of the fourth as he retired the Marlins in order and collected his fourth strikeout of the night.
The Mets went down quiet in the top of the fifth. Canha walked to leadoff the inning, but Luzardo continued to have the Mets’ number retiring the next two he faced.
Peterson had a rough start to the bottom of the fifth, giving up back-to-back singles to Jon Berti and Arráez. Two batters later Cooper singled for the second time in a 3-for-3 game, but a great play by Jeff McNeil got the runner at the plate to eliminate the run. Peterson then got out of the inning with a ground out of Chisholm Jr.
The Mets once again tried to fire up some momentum in the sixth. Nimmo got the offense started with a two-out walk. Marte then singled to move Nimmo to third and stole second to put two runners in scoring position. Lindor then walked to load the bases with two outs.
With bases loaded the Marlins went to their bullpen. They brought in JT Chargois to replace Jesus Luzardo on the mound. Chargois retired Alonso on a line out to center on a hanging slider that Pete just missed.
Luzardo finished with 5 2/3 scoreless innings with five strikeouts and only two hits allowed.
Tommy Hunter relieved Peterson to start he bottom of the sixth. Peterson’s final line: 5.0 IP, 8 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 5 SO, 1 HR, 1.80 ERA.
Hunter gave up a leadoff single to Soler, but settled in to retire the next three he faced and get out of the inning.
Both the Mets and the Marlins went down without a fight in the seventh as both teams’ bullpens held strong in the seventh. Hunter tossed two scoreless innings to lower his ERA with the Mets over three seasons to 1.67.
The Marlins went back to their bullpen in the eighth. They brought in Dylan Floro to replace Chargois on the mound.
The Mets put the tying run on base in the top of the eighth with one out as Daniel Vogelbach came off the bench to pinch hit for Tomas Nido and doubled to right center field off of Floro, but the Mets were unable to move the runner and left Tim Locastro (pinch ran for Vogelbach) stranded in the eighth.
The Mets also went to their bullpen in the eighth. It was John Curtiss on to pitch for Hunter. The Marlins extended their lead over the Mets in the eighth thanks to a Chisholm solo home run to right field.
As the game headed to the ninth, the Marlins headed back to their bullpen. They brought in A.J. Puk to replace Dylan Floro on the mound. Alonso came to the plate to leadoff the inning and gave the Mets their first run of the day with a leadoff solo home run (his first of the year) to right center field to make it a 2-1 game.
That’s all the Mets scored as the Marlins went on to defeat the Mets 2-1 to tie the series at 1-1 heading into the weekend.
David Peterson (0-1) took the loss for the Mets. Luzardo (1-0) got the win for the Marlins, and Puk (1) was credited with his first save of the year.
Key Player For Mets
Though he came away with the loss, our Mets’ key player of the game is Peterson. He gave up just one earned run on eight hits, one walk, and one home run over the course of five innings pitched. He struck out five and walked away from Friday’s outing with a 1.80 ERA.
On Deck
The Mets and Marlins continue their series on Saturday at 4:10 p.m. ET. It will be the righties facing off as Tylor Megill takes the mound for the Mets against Edward Cabrera for the Marlins.
