The New York Mets continue leaving men on base, struggling to score with bases loaded and falling to the Miami Marlins 4-3 in a rainy game at Citi Field on Friday night.
The Mets (5-9) had a chance down 4-1 with the bases loaded and just one out in the eighth, but only plated two runs.
New York went down early after Francisco Cervelli blasted a three-run home run off starting pitcher Michael Wacha. Jonathan Villar followed with his only hit of the game, a double that brought in Magneuris Sierra.
Wacha, who struck out the side in the first inning, looked solid after giving up four in the second, finishing the game with three scoreless innings. Still, he recorded his second loss of the season despite striking out nine.
Dominic Smith, who has been seeing more playing time following the departure of Yoenis Céspedes, put the Mets on the board in the bottom of the second after he hit a solo home run. The home run was his team-leading eighth RBI this season.
Amed Rosario doubled to deep right-center to get things started for the Mets in the eighth. Brian Dozier, who pinch-hit for Brandon Nimmo, walked, and, after Jeff McNeil lined out, Pete Alonso singled to load the bases. Michael Conforto grounded into a fielder’s choice in which Rosario scored on a throwing error by Brian Anderson.
With the bases still loaded, J.D. Davis singled to left-center to plate Dozier and bring the Mets within one run.
Still, a Smith fly ball was not deep enough to score Alonso from third, and Wilson Ramos grounded out to second to end the inning.
The star of the game was Humberto Mejía, the starting pitcher for the Marlins (7-1) whose previous experience stopped at Class A Advanced. Mejia allowed just two hits and one earned run while walking two and striking out six in 2.1 innings.
“It happens,” Mets manager Luis Rojas said. “It was the first time you see the kid after seeing him on video. We did have information on him, but the more information we got as the game went along—it’s something that we’re starting to make some adjustments and guys were starting to lay off the high fastball, and then he was out of the game.”
While the Mets fell deeper into last place, the Marlins expanded its lead at the top of the NL East. The Mets now sit with the second-worst record in the NL.
David Peterson looks to get the Mets back on track in Saturday night’s game against a pitcher who has yet to be named for the Marlins.
(Photo: Andy Marlin-USA TODAY Sports)