Marlins stage post-deGrom rally, but fall late

One thing you have to say about the 2020 Marlins: They are scrappy and never give up. Wednesday’s game was proof, even though they lost, 5-4, to the Mets at Citi Field.

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For most of the game, the Marlins were shaking their heads. That’s because Mets ace Jacob deGrom was out of this world. Miami collected only two hits and struck out 14 times against the right-hander. His fastball was clocked at 100 mph a few times during the game.

Only once did the Marlins do any damage against deGrom. Matt Joyce led off the fourth with a bloop double and later scored on a groundout by Corey Dickerson.

"It's the velo that's the problem. You, in a sense, don't have a lot of time with him,” Marlins manager Don Mattingly said about deGrom. “The guy's throwing 100. He's not exactly a guy that shows it to you, either. He's down the mound a pretty good ways, so it's kind of hidden. You don't have time. You don't want to swing at it, but it's a tough pitch. With him, you almost have to get your swing going and it's just hard to lay off of."

Marlins second baseman Jonathan Villar was so confused at the plate, he didn’t know what to expect from deGrom.

“The guy is unbelievable,” said Villar, who struck out twice against deGrom. “He has a good fastball and good cutter and slider. I don’t know what he had today. You would be ready for one pitch and he throws another pitch. … I was ready for a changeup, and then he threw me a slider. He was unbelievable today. This guy was awesome.”

Once deGrom exited, the Marlins put together a game-tying three-run eighth. Left-hander Justin Wilson was on the mound when the Marlins loaded the bases on three singles. In came Edwin Díaz, who fanned Jesús Sánchez for the second out. But Jesús Aguilar's infield single brought home Jorge Alfaro. Dickerson followed with a bases-loaded walk. Díaz then left with left leg cramps before Brad Brach entered and walked Brian Anderson to tie the score at 4.

“We never have our face down. We are ready to play all the time,” Villar said.

Added Mattingly: “Guys battled and didn't try to do too much. They just kept the line moving. Obviously, 'Andy' and Corey were patient and made [the relievers] throw strikes. Just a hit away from kind of busting it open."

But the Mets retook the lead off Nick Vincent in the bottom half of the frame, as Billy Hamilton came home on Wilson Ramos' two-out single. Vincent had misplayed a potential inning-ending double-play ball a batter earlier.

It looked like the Marlins had a chance to at least tie the score in the ninth against Brach. With one out, Villar reached base on a walk and stole his MLB-leading 10th base -- or so he thought. An umpire review overturned the original safe call, making Villar the second out of the inning.

Villar thought he was safe, but he noticed second baseman Jeff McNeil blocked the bag. Next time, Villar plans to go in feet first.

“That’s the game. Tomorrow, another day. We are ready for tomorrow. If he wants to play like that, I’ll play,” Villar said.

Mattingly said Villar had the green light to steal second.

“It's just the foot thing,” Mattingly said. “I think it's the right play. We know we've got a good combination. It would have put him in scoring position and given us two chances to tie the game up. Obviously, if you know that's that kind of guy, you have to use your feet first.

“Probably in the future, it'll be spikes up going into second with [McNeil] because of what he was willing to do tonight. That part is a green light, and I was OK with it because it was the right time and he had a good jump.”