Marlins 11, Mets 6
MIAMI -- The Miami Marlins defeated the New York Mets 11-6 on Sunday at Marlins Park, completing their first three-game series sweep since they closed out the Philadelphia Phillies last July.
It was also the Marlins' first home sweep over the Mets since May 30, 2004.
The Marlins (16-41), who have the worst record in baseball, are 6-3 against the Mets (22-32), who came to Miami with a five-game winning streak.
Ed Lucas, the Marlins' 31-year-old rookie, went 4 for 4 with two RBI, and Marcell Ozuna, their 22-year-old rookie, drove in four runs to lead Miami. Chris Coghlan went 4 for 5 as part of the Marlins' 16-hit attack.
Although Mets ace Matt Harvey (5-0) escaped with a no-decision, the Marlins got to him for 10 hits and four runs in five innings. He became the first pitcher in Mets history to go undefeated through his first 12 starts of a season, but the Marlins got the ultimate prize -- the win.
The Marlins' winning three-run rally came in the sixth off reliever Scott Rice, who walked Juan Pierre and Lucas to create a jam. Ozuna doubled to left center and Coghlan's groundout gave Miami a 7-6 lead.
Miami added a Lucas run-scoring double in the seventh and a Greg Dobbs three-run homer in the eighth to put the game away.
The Marlins got off to a strong start, scoring three first-inning runs against Harvey. Pierre singled on a perfectly placed drag bunt, and Lucas' three-hopper was also well situated between first baseman Ike Davis and second baseman Daniel Murphy.
With one out, Ozuna hit a two-run triple. Mets center fielder Rick Ankiel broke in before retreating. By that time, it was too late.
The Marlins capped the inning with a Coghlan bloop double that barely got over the glove of shortstop Omar Quintanilla.
New York got one run back in the second when Lucas Duda hit a 403-foot home run to right field.
But the Marlins came right back in the bottom of the second with another seemingly harmless hit that found a hole.
Lucas, who had never had a big-league hit before this weekend, did the damage again, scoring Rob Brantly with a single up the middle. Harvey and Murphy were both a split-second late in their efforts to get to the chopper.
The Mets closed to 4-2 with Quintanilla's 352-foot home run that snuck just inside the foul pole in right field.
Davis tied the score at 4 with a 425-foot home run to center with Marlon Byrd on base after a walk.
The Mets took their first lead with a two-run rally in the fifth, which was built on four singles. Quintanilla and David Wright set it up with their hits. Byrd lined a run-scoring single to left and Davis made it 6-4 with a hit to right.
NOTES: Attendance Sunday was 18,434. ... Saturday marked the first time all year that the Marlins won and the Miami Heat lost on the same day. ... Saturday's triple by Marlins C Jeff Mathis was just the second of his career, spanning 1,437 at-bats. ... Mets LHP Jonathan Niese, who missed a start this weekend because of shoulder tendinitis, is expected to throw a bullpen session on Tuesday. If all goes well, he could rejoin the rotation on Friday at home against Miami. ... Tim Byrdak threw one scoreless inning in extended spring training on Saturday and is expected to return to the Mets' bullpen in July. .. Mets prospect Zach Wheeler had another strong start in Triple A on Saturday night, allowing three hits, one walk and one run in six innings. He has a 3.86 ERA and 59 strikeouts in 58 1/3 innings and is expected to make his major-league debut later this month.
