Mets play spoiler to Marlins in G1 of doubleheader
NEW YORK -- Marlins left-hander Braxton Garrett surrendered two-run homers to Pete Alonso and Francisco Lindor, while Mets southpaw Joey Lucchesi pitched into the seventh inning in the Marlins’ 11-2 loss to the Mets in Game 1 of Wednesday’s doubleheader at Citi Field.
Mark Vientos added a third two-run shot for New York, which continues to play spoiler by winning eight of 11 games against Miami this season.
- Games remaining: at NYM (2), at PIT (3)
- Standings update: After Game 1, the Marlins (81-76) dropped to one game back of the Cubs (82-75) for the third National League Wild Card spot, who had yet to play the Braves, and sat just a half-game ahead of the Reds (80-77). Miami holds the head-to-head tiebreaker over Chicago, having taken four of six in the season series. Miami tied the season series (3-3) with Cincinnati, but the Marlins (25-25 against the NL East) hold the second tiebreaker -- intradivisional record -- over the Reds (20-29 against the NL Central).
Garrett had held opponents to one earned run or fewer in four consecutive starts, but he wasn’t sharp from the get-go. He walked leadoff batter Brandon Nimmo and gave up Alonso’s 46th homer two batters later. In the third, with a runner at second and two outs, Garrett left a sinker over the middle of the plate that Lindor lined over the left-center wall.
Marlins manager Skip Schumaker pulled Garrett after four innings and 77 pitches. Garrett, who was scheduled to start Tuesday’s postponed series opener, would have been in line to pitch in the season finale on Sunday on regular rest.