Mets Battle But Fall To Marlins 3-1

Another day, another nail-biter between the Mets and Marlins.

Unlike Friday however, this one didn’t take 12 innings to decide. Garrett Cooper made sure of that, smashing a 3-2 hanging slider from Drew Smith over the center field fence with two outs and the game tied in the bottom of the ninth, giving the Marlins a 3-1 victory in Miami to even the three-game series.

The homer was the first runs Smith has given up in five appearances this year.

Joey Lucchesi got the nod for the Mets, desperately needing to provide some length and effectiveness on a taxed bullpen. After striking out two in a clean first inning, the southpaw struck out the side in the second.

Magneuris Sierra recorded the first Marlin hit in the third – an opposite-field, one-out single – but was erased as Marlin starter Pablo Lopez bunted into a 1-6-3 double play to end the inning.

With his churve…churving…Lucchesi went on to strike out two more in the fourth before being surprisingly removed after just 43 pitches.

All told, Lucchesi’s final line of four innings, one hit, no walks and eight strikeouts was his best and longest outing as a Met. More like Joey LuKhessi, am I right?

Sean Reid-Foley entered in the fifth, working in and out of trouble in the frame. He struck out two, including the pitcher Lopez, with the bases loaded to end the inning. The sixth was much less eventful for Reid-Foley, as he retired the top of the Miami lineup in order.

Aaron Loup relieved Reid-Foley in the seventh with runners on the corners and one out. Pinch-hitter Corey Dickerson flew out to left and Maybin’s throw home was a good one, but popped out of Nido’s glove to give the Marlins a 1-0 lead.

For his part, the 25-year-old Lopez was stellar for the Marlins. He finished the day with seven innings pitched, four hits, no runs, one walk and eight strikeouts.

The Mets threatened in the first, as Francisco Lindor and Tomas Nido singled around a Cameron Maybin walk to load the bases with two outs, but Wilfredo Tovar struck out to end the bid.

After an easy second for Lopez, Dom Smith hammered one the other way with two outs and Villar on first, but Adam Duvall made a nice running catch at the wall to end the third.

Johneshwy Fargas hit a two-out double in the fourth before Lopez retired the final 10 Mets he faced.

Jose Peraza and Fransico Lindor both walked off Marlin reliever Anthony Bass in the eighth, Maybin then struck out and Richard Bleier came on to face Smith.

A 2-2 sinker appeared to hit the corner for strike three, but home plate umpire Alfonso Marquez didn’t give Bleier the call and Smith singled to right to bring home Peraza and tie the game on the next pitch.

Miguel Castro cruised through the eighth with the help of a stellar defensive play by Smith at first, but the Mets were unable to do anything with Wilfredo Tovar’s leadoff walk in the top of the ninth.

Smith retired the first two batters in the bottom of the ninth with the help of an outrageous catch from Fargas, but a ground ball through the vacant second base spot from Brian Anderson extended the inning for Cooper.

Sunday’s rubber game is scheduled for a 1 p.m. first pitch and can be seen on WPIX. The Marlins are expected to start rookie Cody Poteet, who was allowed just two earned runs over two starts to begin his career. The Mets haven’t announced a starter yet, but Jordan Yamamoto will probably get the ball after he was called up Saturday.