Marlins finish off sweep of Mets
MIAMI -- The Miami Marlins are 6-3 against the New York Mets this season.
The problem for the Marlins is that they are 10-38 against everyone else.
On Sunday, the Marlins defeated the Mets 11-6 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.
"It's tough to sweep teams in the big leagues," Marlins manager Mike Redmond said. "I was really happy with the way we battled."
The Marlins (16-41), who have the worst record in baseball, have dominated the Mets (22-32), who came to Miami with a five-game winning streak.
Miami was averaging just 2.7 runs scored before the series started. Against the Mets, the Marlins scored 24 runs -- an average of eight per game.
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 a career-high four runs to lead Miami. Chris Coghlan went 4-for-5 as part of the Marlins' 16-hit attack.
Lucas said that even in the minors it had "been a few years" since he had a four-hit game.
"It's been an unbelievable ride so far," Lucas said. "It's been a lot of fun, and we've been winning. It's not so much about me anymore. It's about winning."
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.
Marlins starter Kevin Slowey was staked to an early lead but also got a no-decision after allowing six hits, two walks and six runs in 4 1/3 innings.
Still, he was pleased for the team.
"Everything about this weekend was great," Slowey said. "A sweep in the division, to beat Matt Harvey, to see our bats come alive - it was all very encouraging.
"For me personally, giving up three home runs, it was a lack of execution. It's been a tough three or four weeks. I have been leaving balls up in the zone. I haven't been consistent, and hitters have been making good swings. It's not been for a lack of effort on my part."
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 Mets, who trailed 4-1 after two innings, showed some life offensively, getting solo homers from Lucas Duda and Omar Quintanilla and a two-run blast from Ike Davis.
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. Marlon Byrd lined a run-scoring single to left and Davis made it 6-4 with a hit to right.
But Rice couldn't hold the lead.
"You never want to go out there and not compete, and that's what I felt I did," Rice said. "I just wasn't able to get my fastball over.
"I will look at the video, figure out what the issue is and make sure it doesn't happen again. I lost the game, and I feel really bad for the team."
Mets manager Terry Collins said getting swept by Miami was "unexpected", especially with Harvey on the mound for the finale.
"This was tough to take," Collins said. "That's not the Matt Harvey we know. He had to work really hard just to make it through five innings."
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.
