Mets 3, Marlins 2
NEW YORK - Ruben Tejada's bases-loaded, two-out single in the bottom of the ninth inning brought home Scott Hairston and gave the Mets a 3-2 win over the Miami Marlins in front of an announced crowd of 26,923 at Citi Field Sunday afternoon.
The Mets (69-83) completed their first sweep of a series at home since June 18-20 against the Orioles and moved 31/2 games ahead of the Marlins in the race to avoid last place in the NL East.
The Marlins (66-87) lost for the sixth time in seven games and fell to the Mets for the seventh straight time dating back to Aug. 9.
Hairston singled leading off the ninth against Ryan Webb (4-3) and went to second on a one-out passed ball. Andres Torres walked and Hairston advanced to third when Jordany Valdespin beat out a potential double-play ball to short. After pinch-hitter Fred Lewis was intentionally walked to load the bases, Tejada laced a clean single to left for his first hit in five at-bats.
Bobby Parnell (5-4) earned the win for the Mets with a perfect ninth.
Donovan Solano was 2-for-4 for the Marlins in his third multi-hit game of the series.
The Mets started off fast against Marlins starter Ricky Nolasco as Daniel Murphy doubled with one out in the first and David Wright followed with a two-run homer. But the Mets didn't get another runner as far as second base until the seventh, when Torres was credited with a double on a ball right fielder Greg Dobbs lost in the sun.
The Marlins stranded runners in scoring position in the second and fourth before finally tying the score in the fifth. Rob Brantly and Gil Velazquez opened the inning with singles. Brantly scored on a sacrifice fly by Bryan Petersen and Velazquez raced home when Mets catcher Kelly Shoppach overthrew second base on a stolen base by Gorkys Hernandez.
Chris Young allowed two runs (one earned) on five hits and two walks while striking out six in six innings for the Mets. The no-decision left him winless in nine career starts for the Mets at Citi Field.
Nolasco lasted seven innings for the Marlins and allowed two runs on five hits and two walks while striking out five. He has a 1.46 ERA in his last five starts.
NOTES: Mets closer Frank Francisco has been shut down for a few days due to a sore elbow. Francisco, who last pitched on Sept. 16, warmed up during Friday's game and woke up sore Saturday morning. Manager Terry Collins said he hopes Francisco can pitch again this season. Jon Rauch, who earned the save in the Mets' 4-3 win Saturday, will get save chances in Francisco's absence. ... Wright's homer in the first inning was the 1,415th hit of his career, leaving him three shy of tying Ed Kranepool's franchise record. ... The three-game winning streak is just the third time since the All-Star Break the Mets have won three in a row. ... Marlins outfielder Giancarlo Stanton missed his sixth straight game with a sore left intercostal muscle. ... Marlins first baseman Carlos Lee, who went 0-for-4, is one homer away from recording at least 10 homers and 25 doubles for the 14th straight season. He would become one of just five players to reach those marks in at least 14 straight seasons. Stan Musial had a streak of 16 straight seasons, Derek Jeter had 15 and Jeff Bagwell and Manny Ramirez each did it 14 straight times.
