Game Recap: Jose Reyes Keeps Hitting as Marlins Beat Mets 4-2

Jose Reyes and the Marlins come to Flushing for the second time this season, and Reyes was able to greet the fans with another hit, extending his career high hitting streak to 25 games. Miami also got back Giancarlo Stanton, their biggest power threat. He’d been sidelined with a knee injury for the last month, but the bulk of their run production came from an unlikely source. You know, that dude named John Buck.

Mets Offensive Highlights:

New York was able to break through on starter Wade LeBlanc in the bottom of the fifth, as Daniel Murphy led things off with a solo home run; it was his fourth long ball of the year, but first in front of the home crowd. Behind him, Jason Bay and Ike Davis both singled with two outs, allowing Andres Torresto drive Bay in with an RBI single, cutting the deficit to two runs at the time. However, the same problem keeps showing it’s ugly head in the second half; no situational hitting. The Mets only went 2-for-5 with runners in scoring position, but left 11 runners on base. For a team that can’t depend on the home run, this is a huge problem.

Marlins Offensive Highlights:

Jonathon Niese pitched well, but it was the fourth inning that doomed him from having a quality start. Justin Ruggiano and Jose Reyes started the frame off with singles, then Carlos Lee hit a single of his own, driving in Ruggiano with the first run of the ballgame. Stanton plated Reyes with a sacrifice fly to center field, but it was Buck with the back breaker, doubling to right field with two outs, scoring two runs to give the Marlins a four-run inning. That was all Miami could muster in their offensive effort, but it was enough as the pitching was able to hold the Mets at bay for most of the night.

Pitching Highlights:

Wade LeBlanc once again pitched well, but it took him 85 pitches to get through 4+ innings. He gave up 1 run on 6 hits and 2 walks, and 4 strikeouts. Behind him, Chad Gaudin gave up the other New York run, but Carlos Zambrano, Mike Dunn, and Heath Bell all held the Mets scoreless in their respective appearances. Bell recorded his sixth hold, now assuming the setup role since he’s been having such a horrible year as the closer. Steve Cishek came on to strike out two in a hitless inning for his seventh save.

Jonathon Niese ended up throwing 6 innings and giving up those 4 runs on 8 hits and 1 walk, while whiffing 4. With Frank Francisco back in the bullpen, Terry Collins used Bobby Parnell as the beginning of the bridge to the end of the game, as he and Manny Acosta both held Miami scoreless, combining for 3 strikeouts. Jon Rauch gave up a hit in the ninth inning, but that was all. The bullpen gave the offense plenty of opportunities to come back, but it wasn’t meant to be.

Worth Noting:

Although Jose Reyes extended his hitting streak, Ruben Tejada also kept his career-best hitting streak going with a single of his own, as he’s now hit in 12 consecutive games. New York put together a nine-hit attack, and Daniel Murphy was the lone player to collect more than one hit, while Scott Hairston and Ronny Cedeno were the only two starting players to not get a hit.

Probable Pitchers Wednesday:

Nathan Eovaldi (2-7, 4.66 ERA) is hoping his second start as a Marlin will go better than his debut did, as he opposes Chris Young (3-5, 4.22 ERA). First pitch at Citi Field is scheduled for 7:10pm.