The Mets (75-61) lost the rubber game of the series to the Miami Marlins (57-80) today at Marlins Park by a score of 4-3.
Offense:
The Mets failed to inflict damage upon one of the worst teams in baseball today, as they managed to put up only three runs, both of which came on the strength of home runs.
Yoenis Cespedes continued his fantastic season by blasting his 30th home run of the year in the first inning to give the Mets an early lead.
After Miami took the lead in the fifth, Wilmer Flores answered back by hitting a two-run shot to left field in the sixth inning.
With Miami tying the game up again in the eighth, the Mets had a golden opportunity to take the lead right back in the ninth with the bases load and only one away, but Travis d’Arnaud grounded into an inning ending double play.
This would prove to be crucial, as Miami would win the game in the bottom of the ninth.
Pitching:
Steven Matz made his much anticipated return, and did well in his first start back. The rookie left-hander pitched into the sixth inning before being removed with a blister on his left middle finger.
Matz’s final line has him pitching 5.1 innings, allowing two runs on four hits, while walking two and striking out six. He would have to settle for a no-decision, however, as the Marlins were able to tie up the game after his departure.
The first run off of Matz came in the first inning, as Dee Gordon walked and then stole second.
Gordon would move up to third on a fly out from Martin Prado, and score on a single from Marcell Ozuna.
Matz would keep the Marlins at bay until the fifth inning, when Jeff Mathis hit his first run of the year to left field to give the Marlins a 2-1 lead at the time.
After Matz exited the game in the sixth, Hansel Robles came on to finish off the inning, and despite letting up a double to Marcell Ozuna, he recorded the final two outs.
Addison Reed pitched the seventh inning, and let up two hits, but struck out Martin Prado to end the frame.
Tyler Clippard pitched his usual eighth inning in a ballpark in which he has dominated in the past. The Mets set-up man had never allowed a run in Miami before today, when he surrendered a home run to Justin Bour to knot the game up at three.
Clippard went back out for the ninth inning with the game now tied, and loaded the bases with one out, only to lose the game on a walk-off sacrifice fly from Martin Prado.
With the Washington Nationals also winning, the Mets lead in the division has shrunk to four games, and the Mets have to travel to Washington after today’s game to face-off against the Nats three best pitchers.
On deck:
Jon Niese (8-10, 4.17 ERA) takes on Max Scherzer (11-11, 2.89 ERA) for the first game of what might be the Mets most important series of the season tomorrow afternoon. First pitch is at 1:05 PM.
