Jakob Marsee scored the tiebreaking run on an error and the Miami Marlins took advantage of sloppiness by the host New York Mets to earn a 7-4 win in the opener of a four-game series between the National League East rivals on Thursday.
Otto Lopez had a pair of RBIs for the Marlins, who scored five unearned runs while winning for just the eighth time in 24 games since Aug. 4. Miami has lost its previous seven series.
Brandon Nimmo hit a two-run double for the Mets, who committed three errors on their way to losing for the second time in five games. Pete Alonso tied the game in the fifth inning with his 30th homer of the season, a two-run shot.
Agustin Ramirez lofted a first-inning sacrifice fly for the Marlins, who built multi-run rallies following Mets miscues in the third and seventh.
Xavier Edwards easily beat Jeff McNeil’s throw home from second on Liam Hicks’ one-out grounder in the third. Hicks scored the tiebreaking run after pitcher Clay Holmes, covering first base, dropped Alonso’s throw on a two-out grounder by Troy Johnston. Lopez followed with his first RBI single.
The Marlins snapped a 4-4 tie thanks to two Mets errors in the seventh. After Marsee’s leadoff single against Gregory Soto (1-5), Alonso misplayed a grounder by Hicks. Ramirez then singled to left and Marsee was waved home after Nimmo couldn’t corral the ball. One out later, Hicks beat McNeil’s throw home on Lopez’s one-hopper to second.
The rally made a winner of reliver Cade Gibson (3-5), who allowed one hit in 1 1/3 innings. Calvin Faucher, the Marlins’ fifth pitcher, earned his 13th save with a perfect ninth.
Starter Adam Mazur gave up two runs on four hits and one walk while striking out two over four innings.
Holmes surrendered four runs (two earned) on five hits and one walk while striking out two over five innings.
