Mets blow multiple opportunities, fall to Marlins 7-3

The Mets had plenty of opportunities to win Wednesday night’s matchup against the Marlins, but Miami held onto a 7-3 victory to take a 2-1 series win.

Game Recap:

Both teams exchanged 2-run homers in the first inning, with Michael Cuddyer crushing one to left center field with Lucas Duda on first base to make it 2-0 New York. With an 0-1 count in the bottom half of the first frame, Giancarlo Stanton unleashed an astronomical home run to left field to knot the score at 2.

Lucas Duda grounded out to Dee Gordon at the start of the third inning to drive in Curtis Granderson from third base. Just two innings later, Stanton tied the game up at 3 with a single on a soft ground ball to Daniel Murphy. Murphy, who had to sprint to his right just to put a glove on it, failed to throw Stanton out.

Before Bartolo Colon could settle down, Dee Gordon continued his hot streak by driving in Adeiny Hechavarria from third to give the ‘Fins their first lead of the night.

With Juan Lagares on first base, Lucas Duda grounded into a double play in the top of the eighth inning. Alex Torres entered the game in the bottom of the eighth frame with runners at the corners, and surrendered a three-run home run to Ichiro Suzuki.

Highlights:

• Colon lasted 6 2/3 frames for the Mets and exited with the team down 4. With Giancarlo Stanton coming up to the plate, Colon left after giving up 9 hits and striking out 2.

• Duda went 1-for-3 with a walk.

• Terry Collins was successful in challenging a close play at first base.

• Cuddyer went 2-for-4, including a two-run homer in the first inning.

• Mat Latos exited the game with a left hamstring strain that can potentially put his next start in jeopardy.

• Hansel Robles got Giancarlo Stanton to strike out in the bottom of the seventh inning before giving up a three run homer to Ichiro.

• Jack Leathersich made his major league debut, giving up a single to Justin Bour before Wilmer Flores tagged him out at second base to end the bottom of the eighth.

Next Up:

The Mets begin a four-game series with the Washington Nationals on Thursday in New York at 7:10 p.m.

Jacob deGrom gets the start for the Mets, opposed by Stephen Strasburg for the Nationals.