6/9 Game Recap: Mets Blow Late 3 Run Lead, Lose to Miami in 10

The day after they played a 20 inning marathon, the Mets and Marlins wrapped up their abbreviated two game series this afternoon at Citi Field.

The Marlins struck first when Adeiny Hechavarria lined an RBI single to right field in the top of the second to give Miami a 1-0 lead.  The Mets struck back in the bottom of the frame, tying things up when cleanup hitter Daniel Murphy stroked a solo homer to right field.

Jun 9, 2013; New York, NY, USA; New York Mets starting pitcher

(49) pitches against the Miami Marlins during the third inning of a game at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

In the bottom of the third, the Mets went ahead when they hung a three spot on Marlins starter Tom Koehler.  With one out and the bases loaded, David Wright drove a two RBI double to deep left center to give the Mets a 3-1 lead.  With the Marlins playing the infield back, Daniel Murphy then hit an RBI groundout that extended the Mets’ advantage to 4-1.

The Marlins closed the gap to 4-3 in the top of the sixth when Marcell Ozuna hit a one out RBI double to center.  The second run scored after Juan Lagares bobbled the ball in center field, but Jonathon Niese stranded Ozuna at third base to keep the Mets ahead.

Scott Rice came in to pitch to top of the eighth, and surrendered a leadoff home run to Derek Dietrich that tied things at four.

The Marlins threatened in the ninth after back to back singles off Bobby Parnell put runners on first and third with one out.  Parnell escaped the jam with a strikeout and by getting Marcell Ozuna to ground to third to end the frame.

With Daniel Murphy at second base and two outs in the ninth, the Mets had a chance to win it with Anthony Recker at the plate.  However, Recker stared at an 88 MPH slider down the middle for strike three to send the game to extra innings.

Bobby Parnell remained in the game for the tenth, and gave up back to back singles to open the frame.  He then induced a likely double play ball from Adeiny Hechavarria, but Murphy committed an error that allowed the go ahead run to score as the Marlins took a 5-4 lead.  Robert Carson was then brought in with runners on first and third, and allowed a sacrifice fly to Greg Dobbs that made it 6-4 Miami.  Carson then surrendered a two run homer to Miguel Olivo that made it 8-4 Marlins and closed out the scoring.

Highlights:

• After missing a start with tendinitis in his left shoulder, Jonathon Niese returned to the rotation and was solid.  Over 6.2 innings, he allowed 3 runs on 8 hits.  He walked 1 and struck out 4.

• David Wright delivered a 2 RBI double in the third.

• Scott Rice gave up a game tying home run to Derek Dietrich, the only batter he faced.

• Brandon Lyon worked in and out of trouble while pitching a scoreless 8th in relief of Rice.

• Bobby Parnell worked out of a 1st and 3rd, one out jam to pitch a scoreless 9th.  He remained in for the 10th, and the go ahead run scored on his watch after back to back singles and an error by Daniel Murphy.

• Daniel Murphy‘s error on a likely double play ball in the 10th allowed the winning run to score.

Thoughts:

There’s really not much to say at this point.  The Mets are a dreadful offensive team.  They blew a 4-1, 6th inning lead.  They’ve lost five games in a row to the Miami Marlins.  Today’s winning run scored on an error that would’ve been a double play if fielded cleanly.

This is an awful time to be a Mets fan.  The only games worth watching are the ones Matt Harvey pitches, and that’s a real shame.  The fan base is fed up (evidenced by the Mets drawing a shade over 20,000 fans each of the last two days).  Something has to be done to shake things up before this team becomes nothing more than a punchline.

Robert Carson shouldn’t be on the major league roster since he simply isn’t major league caliber at this point.  The Mets have an off day tomorrow, and a move should be made.

Next Up:

The Mets are off tomorrow.  They open a three game set with the Cardinals at Citi Field on Tuesday night.  Jeremy Hefner gets the start for New York.  He’ll be opposed by Michael Wacha.

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