Mets Late Game Rally Falls Short in 4-3 Loss to Marlins

The New York Mets struggled to find their energy as they succumbed to the Miami Marlins losing 4-3 on the rainy Friday night in Flushing.

The Mets bats were lifeless beyond a single home run from Dom Smith in the second for most of the game, yet the hope of a comeback was in the air as two runs were brought in from Michael Conforto and J.D. Davis on RBI singles with loaded bases bringing the score to 4-3 Marlins in the eighth. Sadly, their efforts fell short as the team couldn’t bring in any more runs to close the gap.

Mets starter Michael Wacha seemed to come to the mound in the first with a different game plan than before, using an electric fastball to set up a well-controlled changeup, just to crumble in the second allowing four runs,  including a three-run rocket from Francisco Cervelli.

Despite having a tough break in the second inning, the 29-year-old recovered well, getting through the rest of his start without any further damage exiting the game with four runs on six hits, with four errors, two walks, and nine strikeouts over five innings pitched. The Mets bullpen managed to hold the score for the rest of the game, including an impressive inning from Edwin Diaz. 

Pitching

Wacha started the night out strong striking out Jonathan Villar, Eddy Alvarez, and Corey Dickerson swinging to retire the side. Only the second time Wacha has struck out the first side in his entire career.  

Wacha’s composure started to crumble as Jesus Aguilar grounded out to third, then giving up a one-out walk to Brian Anderson, his control on his fastball wavering. Wacha then allowing an infield single to Matt Joyce, going just over the pitcher’s head due to miscommunication between Wacha and the Mets defense.

Francisco Cervelli proceeded to take Wacha deep on a three-run opposite-field home run bringing the score to 3-0 Marlins. 

After Logan Forsythe flew out to Brandon Nimmo for the second out Wacha allowed a walk to Magneuris Sierra who was driven in on a double from Villar. As he struggled to retire a batter, the pitcher was finally was saved by Nimmo who caught a fly from Alverez for the last out retiring the side.  

Coming into the third Wacha retired Corey Dickerson on a pop up to Amed Rosario, but Jesus Aguilar doubled as Nimmo couldn’t locate the fly ball with weather conditions worsening. Wacha came back not allowing any damage, striking out Anderson and Joyce finishing the side strong. 

Starting off the fourth strong striking out Cervelli and Forsythe, Wacha gave up a bullet ground ball through the gap to Sierra for a single who stretched it stealing second, bringing up Villar who grounded out to Andres Gimenez for the third out. 

Wacha started the fifth with back to back swinging strikeouts to Dickerson and Alverez bringing his K count to nine. Wacha running out of steam allowed a double to Aguilar but escaped the inning unscathed when Anderson grounded out to Davis for the last out finishing his outing. 

Lefty Chasen Schreve had a great outing striking out five as he came in for the sixth. Starting with a great play from Rosario for the first out of the inning on a popup from Joyce. Schreve then struck out the rest of the side swinging for a solid inning. Shreve started the seventh with a leadoff walk to Sierra but got out of the unscathed striking out Villar and Alverez as Rosario picked off Sierra for the last out. 

Jared Hughes came in to relieve Shreve in the eighth allowing a walk to Aguilar and single to Joyce struggling to make the defensive connection but managed to get out of the inning without adding to the score.

Edwin Diaz was brought in for the ninth, with his last few outings being strong, he continued that trend starting off the inning with a pair of 97 mph fastballs and 89 mph slider for a strikeout against Forsythe. Despite falling behind the count at times, Diaz finished his outing strong with two strikeouts and no hits.

Offense 

Newcomer Humberto Mejia is the eighth different starting pitcher the Marlins have used in the past week or so, but that did not stop him from retiring Brandon Nimmo and Jeff McNeil to start his outing. Eventually giving up a long double to Pete Alonso in the top of the first to get the Mets offense into action, only to be left stranded as Michael Conforto gave up the last out striking out swinging.  

Dom Smith broke out the second inning for the Mets with a home run getting the Mets on the board cutting the Marlins’ lead 4-1. 

Starting off the bottom of the third with a walk to Nimmo who’s now at a career-high of 29 straight games getting on base. 

After the Marlins managed to retire 13 straight Mets, Rosario doubled to deep right-center bringing some life back into the game in the bottom of the eighth. Richard Blier came in as the fifth Marlins pitcher of the night, walking Brian Dozier putting two on base with no outs.

Alonso hit an opposite-field single loading the bases with the only out coming from McNeil.

Conforto managed to keep the momentum going with a ground single to third pushing Rosario home as Anderson missed the connection to get the out making the score 4-2 Marlins.

JD Davis pulled in an RBI single bringing home Dozier, the Mets down by one with loaded bases and one out in the bottom of the eighth, but the Mets failed to bring anyone else home.

The game ended with Billy Hamilton lining out, with the Mets’ offense not getting the clutch hit—again!

On Deck 

David Peterson (1-1, 3.86 ERA) is scheduled for his third start with the Mets against the Marlins on Saturday at 7:10 PM EST.

The game will be televised on SNY and broadcast on WCBS 880 AM.