The Mets (45-38) were defeated by the Miami Marlins (43-41) by a score of 5-2 tonight at Citi Field. Thankfully, with the Nationals in line to lose against Milwaukee tonight, the Mets will remain four games out of first.
Pitching:
Steven Matz got the ball for tonight’s game, and pitched very well with the exception of just one pitch that Giancarlo Stanton promptly deposited into the left field seats.
Matz’s final line has him going seven strong innings, allowing just the two runs on Stanton’s homer, scattering six hits as well as striking out six.
Erik Goeddel came on to pitch the eighth, and let up another bomb to Stanton, who launched this one, a three-run shot, into the second deck in left field to bust the game open 5-1.
Antonio Bastardo pitched the ninth and was miraculously able to keep the deficit at 5-2. After getting into trouble, Bastardo struck out two in a row to end the inning.
Offense:
Wei-Yin Chen who has struggled mightily this season was nothing short of outstanding tonight against the Mets, the only blemish coming on a home run from Yoenis Cespedes in the fourth inning.
Chen allowed only two more hits the rest of his outing, as he shut down the Mets offense in seven strong innings of work.
The cat with nine lives, Alejandro de Aza, hit a home run to right field off Fernando Rodney in the eighth to cut the deficit to 5-2 (It’s about time).
However, A.J. Ramos shut the door for Miami in the ninth, sealing the win for Marlins.
Third baseman Jose Reyes batted leadoff and went 0-for-4 in his return as a Met.
On deck:
The Mets will look to take the rubber game tomorrow afternoon at Citi Field, as Jacob deGrom (4-4, 2.62 ERA) takes on Justin Nicolino (2-4, 5.34 ERA). First pitch is scheduled for 1:10 PM.
