Final Score: Marlins 8, Mets 2—Arby’s: We Have The Mets

With the last minute scratch of Jacob deGrom due to family concerns, Corey Oswalt was forced into emergency service in Miami. He faced off against fellow rookie Sandy Alcantara and Alcantara emerged on top, allowing just one run over five innings of work, despite walking five batters.

Oswalt’s night ended early after things completely unraveled for him in the third inning. Lewis Brinson, who ended the night a triple shy of the cycle, led off the inning with a solo home run to break the scoreless tie. Things went downhill from there. A string of hits, punctuated by a three-run homer by J.T. Riddle put the Marlins up 6-0 and chased Oswalt out of the game after just 2 ²⁄₃ innings. Chris Beck was able to get the last out and mercifully put the inning to bed.

Ironically, during a time when the Mets bullpen can’t seem to buy an out, they put forth a workmanlike effort tonight in a game that was decided early. Tyler Bashlor retired eight Marlins in a row in relief of Oswalt before surrendering an additional run on consecutive two-out hits from Brinson and Cameron Maybin. Jerry Blevins came in and got out of trouble, retiring Derek Dietrich to end the inning. Blevins subsequently pitched a scoreless seventh as well.

The Mets’ only runs came in the fourth and eighth innings. Devin Mesoraco drove an RBI double off the wall behind a jumping Dietrich in left field to drive in Wilmer Flores for the Mets’ first run—the only blemish on Alcantara’s successful debut start. The Mets had something brewing in the eighth against Ben Meyer when they loaded the bases with nobody out. However, Brad Ziegler came in to face Flores and induced a run-scoring double-play grounder, followed by a strikeout of pinch hitter Jose Reyes to escape the jam with limited damage.

The Marlins tacked on an additional run in the bottom of the eighth against Drew Smith, in the form of two singles followed by a sacrifice fly from Miguel Rojas. Kyle Barraclough pitched a scoreless ninth to secure the victory for the Marlins, working around a leadoff walk to Amed Rosario—Rosario’s third (!!!) walk of the night—and a bloop single from Brandon Nimmo.

The Marlins take the opener of this three game series in Miami and the Mets find themselves on their way to last place in the NL East. Eat Arby’s.

Full recap to follow.

GameThread Roll Call

1. MetsFan4Decades: 89
2. Jets Mets Devils Nets 16: 38
3. Oak Beach Inn: 23
4. AnneInFlushing: 21
5. stickguy: 21
6. Gina: 20
7. amazins8669: 13
8. Cory Braiterman: 13
9. Allison McCague: 12
10. YuretRastin: 12

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