It was a back-and-forth fight for the lead all day today, but the Marlins beat the Mets today by a score of 15-9 at First Data Field. There is good news and bad news. If you want the good news first, read the offense section first. If you want the bad news first, read the pitching section first. Either way, read all of it.
Pitching
Steven Matz started for the Mets today and got hit hard in four innings, allowing five runs on eight hits while striking out one. Most of the damage was done against him in the second inning when Matt den Dekker scored two with a double, opposing pitcher Scott Copeland laid down a first-and-third bunt, and J.T. Realmuto knocked an RBI double.
Jerry Blevins came in to face Justin Bour to start the 5th inning who lined out to first base. Terry then brought in Jeurys Familia who walked Marcell Ozuna before a Derek Dietrich double put runners on second and third. A Matt den Dekker sacrifice fly scored a run but with the help of a groundout and a strikeout that’s all Familia would allow.
Zack Wheeler came in to pitch the next three innings and while there were plenty of positives, he came away with a rough stat line. In those three innings, he allowed four earned runs on four hits while walking three and striking out one. He allowed two home runs in the top of the 8th inning that gave the Marlins a 12-9 lead at the time.
While Wheeler didn’t pitch exceptionally well, his velocity looked great as he consistently hit 95-96 mph. He has not faced batters in two years and the rust certainly showed today, however he seems perfectly healthy.
Fernando Salas came in to stop the bleeding in the 9th inning with the Mets down by three runs and quickly induced two ground outs, but then singles by Justin Bohn and Brandon Barnes prolonged the inning. Tyler Moore, who hit a home run against Wheeler an inning earlier, then crushed another dinger to give the Marlins a 15-9 lead.
Offense
Mets starters had a pretty good day across the board, accounting for all of the nine Mets runs. Going from the top of the lineup down, Jose Reyes returned from the World Baseball Classic to go 1-for-3 with a walk and two runs scored. Asdrubal Cabrera was 2-for-4 with a double and two runs scored.
Yoenis Cespedes went 1-for-2 with and RBI, two runs scored, and two walks, which is a great day, but the best day award goes to Curtis Granderson. Grandy went 2-for-4 with two runs scored, two home runs and five RBIs.
Batting next was Neil Walker who went 2-for-4 with two RBIs and a double. He was followed by Jay Bruce who socked a solo home run on route to being 1-for-3 with one RBI, one run scored, and one walk. Lucas Duda was the only starting position player not to record a hit; he was 0-3.
Travis d’Arnaud hit eighth and continued his hot spring, going 2-for-4 with a double in front of Steven Matz who went 0-for-2. No Mets replacement had a hit until Desmond Lindsay led off the 9th inning with a base hit to right field.
On Deck: The Mets will visit the Nationals tomorrow where they will start Robert Gsellman against a starter yet to be named. The game is at 1:05 at The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches. The game will be televised by the Nats’ MASN.
