MIAMI -- After a replay challenge didn’t go the Marlins' way, Pete Alonso crushed the ball a long way to center field, which vaulted the Mets to a 7-3 win over Miami on Monday at Marlins Park.

Alonso’s first MLB home run was a three-run blast to center, and followed up Amed Rosario’s tie-breaking, RBI single that put New York ahead by a run off reliever Drew Steckenrider.

The wild ninth inning featured plenty of high drama, and excitement, even with the Marlins loading the bases in the ninth off closer Edwin Diaz. But the breaks -- and in the eyes of the Marlins the calls -- didn’t go their way. Afterwards, a frustrated manager Don Mattingly expressed his displeasure.

“I guess I'm not supposed to complain about calls or whatever,” Mattingly said. “But the league needs to look at it, because it was shaky tonight.”

The inning featured a contested hit-by-pitch call when Steckenrider’s fastball ran in on the hands of Juan Lagares, who was squaring to bunt. Home-plate umpire Sam Holbrook ruled the ball hit Lagares’ hand as he was bunting.

The Marlins used a replay challenge, but after a review of two minutes and 12 seconds, the call stood, giving the Mets two runners on with no outs.

The review was to determine whether Lagares was hit by the pitch that was high and tight. The Mets thought Lagares was getting out of the way, the Marlins had a different take -- claiming the New York center fielder never pulled the bat back.

“Sam's saying, he was getting out of the way,” Mattingly said. “But, if you're getting out of the way, you're going to pull the bat back. Obviously, he's going to get out of the way at the very end of that. But he never pulled the bat back, in any way, shape or form. I don't get that one.”

Mets manager Mickey Callaway responded: "I saw a guy trying to get out of the way of a fastball that was going to hit him in the face. I think they got it right.”

Alonso’s blast to center was a no-doubter, projected at 444 feet by Statcast, with a 112.8 mph exit speed, breaking the game open.

The Mets' comeback win overshadowed a three-RBI day for Marlins second baseman Starlin Castro.

“I didn't have a really good Spring Training, but when we started the season, I started feeling better every day at the plate,” Castro said. “Today, I had good success.”

Miami left-hander Caleb Smith also impressed in his five innings.

Smith, who has recovered from left lat surgery performed last July, went right to work in the first inning, striking out the side. The left-hander showed no rust from being out of action since June 24, 2018, at Colorado.

In five innings, the left-hander allowed two runs on four hits, striking out eight, while walking one.

The Marlins are building around their inexperienced rotation, which features four starters who were rookies in 2018 -- Trevor Richards, Pablo Lopez, Sandy Alcantara and Smith. The first time through the rotation, those four have combined for a 2.22 ERA, allowing six earned runs in 24 1/3 innings, with 25 strikeouts and three walks.

“I didn't have my best stuff,” Smith said. “My command was a little off with all my pitches. I felt great, physically.”

The Marlins grabbed the early lead on Castro’s two-run homer in the first inning, which was projected by Statcast at 419 feet with an exit velocity of 108.9 mph. Both runs were unearned because Miguel Rojas, who led off by striking out, reached on Wilson Ramos’ passed ball.

In the second inning, when the Mets got on the board, the Marlins felt Smith got squeezed twice by Holbrook. The first time was against Michael Conforto, who had his at-bat extended, and he hit a one-out single. And with one out, Jeff McNeil appeared to be rung up on strike three but the 0-2 offering was called a ball. McNeil then had an RBI double.

“I don't understand a lot of it tonight, to be honest with you,” Mattingly said. “I understand the whole Marlins aren't supposed to be good this year. I guess it's OK to pile on. But ... it's got to be better than that. It was shaky tonight.”