Mets Road Trip Ends With 5-1 Loss to Marlins

Jordan Yamamoto‘s return to Miami didn’t go as the 25-year-old right-hander planned it. The Mets lost 5-1 and dropped to 21-19 on the year.

The “replace-Mets” didn’t have what was needed to eke out a win on Sunday afternoon. New York scored six runs in the opener of the series and followed it up with two runs over the next 18 innings. Worse, Kevin Pillar is the only Met on track to return soon with a reconstructed face.

The ragtag Mets lineup failed to reach scoring position against Miami Marlins starter Cody Poteet. New York reached base in each of the first three innings, all singles.

James McCann, batting third, singled in the first. Brandon Drury, making his second start, singled in the second. Yamamoto singled in the third. Poteet retired the next 14 batters after Yamamoto’s single.

Miami did all their damage in the second.

The Marlins loaded the bases on a single, walk, and hit by pitch. Yamamoto was visited by Jeremy Hefner and struck out Magneuris Sierra looking with the pitcher up next.

Poteet chopped a ball toward the third-base line. Yamamoto scrambled over and flipped the ball toward home not in time. Jazz Chisholm Jr. singled to score Garrett Cooper. Miguel Rojas grounded into what might have been an inning-ending double play but a throwing error by Francisco Lindor allowed two runs to cross. Jesus Aguilar singled to score Rojas, the fifth and final run to cross.

Yamamoto kept Miami off the board over his final two innings. He was removed after the fourth with shoulder soreness. In his first appearance as a Met, Yamamoto went four innings, allowed six hits, walked two, and struck out two. Robert Gsellman came in for relief.

Gsellman remained terrific in a long-relief role. He went three innings, allowing just one hit and striking out two batters. His ERA is down to 2.50.

Don Mattingly removed Poteet after seven innings and 93 pitches. Calling upon reliever John Curtiss, the Mets were finally able to reach base.

Johneshwy Fargas doubled to start the eighth. Wilfredo Tovar singled, scoring Fargas with two outs.

Yennsy Diaz made his Mets debut in the bottom of the eighth. He struck out Brian Anderson and walked one batter.

Players who started the season on the Mets roster combined to go 2-for-16 with three strikeouts. Cameron Maybin has yet to record a hit and Fargas leads the lineup with a .300 average. Tovar has the second-highest batting average at .250.

Still, the Mets are still in first place. They begin a four-game series with Colorado at 7:10 p.m. tomorrow. It’s the first of seven straight at home.