Marlins 3, Mets 2
MIAMI - Henderson Alvarez pitched a strong game and rookies Jake Marisnick and Christian Yelich provided key extra-base hits to lead the Miami Marlins to a 3-2 win over the New York Mets Wednesday night at Marlins Park.
Alvarez (2-1) allowed just two runs in 7 1/3 innings to win his second straight start. He also went 2 for 3 with a run scored at the plate.
Marisnick hit his first career home and Yelich's double led to a two-run rally that proved crucial.
With Steve Cishek having pitched two innings Tuesday, Mike Dunn pitched 1 1/3 innings for his second save of the season and his first since May 19.
Dunn had to work hard, though, because John Buck got a single and Justin Turner hit a drive to right that was caught on the warning track by Giancarlo Stanton.
The Mets scored their first run in the seventh, when Marlon Byrd beat out an infield hit with two outs and scored from first on Ike Davis' double to the right-field corner.
New York added a run in the eighth when Eric Young Jr. walked, took third on a groundout and scored on a passed ball by Rob Brantly.
David Wright - the potential tying run - reached third base with two outs in the eighth, but he was stranded when Mets pinch-hitter Josh Satin popped out to left.
Mets starter Jenrry Mejia (1-1) took the loss.
In the second inning, Jake Marisnick hit his first career homer to give the Marlins a 1-0 lead. The rookie pulled the ball 409 feet down the line in left, and his teammates jokingly gave him the silent treatment in the dugout before erupting in hugs and laughter.
The Marlins added two runs run in the third on sacrifice flies by Placido Polanco and Giancarlo Stanton.
Henderson Alvarez started the rally with a single that that traveled just a few feet -- he beat the throw from pitcher Jenrry Mejia. Alvarez reached third on a line-drive double by Christian Yelich just over the glove of left fielder Eric Young Jr., and consecutive flyouts gave the Marlins a 3-0 lead.
Young tripled to right-center in the top of the third, missing a homer by perhaps an inch. The play was reviewed by video, and the call stood. The Mets then stranded runners at the corners when David Wright flied out to right.
NOTES: The Marlins rested SS Adeiny Hechavarria, moving 3B Ed Lucas to that shortstop. Lucas booted a ground ball in the fourth inning. Prior to Wednesday, he had just 10 big-league innings at short. Polanco started at third. ... Neither the Mets nor the Marlins made a deal at the trade deadline. Teams made offers for Mets RF Marlon Byrd, but nothing that enticed the team into a move. ... Mets All-Star RHP Matt Harvey opposes Marlins RHP Tom Koehler on Thursday afternoon when the four-game series concludes. ... Marlins RHP Steve Cishek had allowed 17 earned runs this season through Tuesday, and nine of them came when he pitched more than one inning per outing. In fact, he had pitched more than one inning five times, and he took the loss in four of those games, including Tuesday. ... Mets manager Terry Collins said he might use RHP Zack Wheeler in relief toward the end of the season as the team tries to keep the rookie's innings in check. Wheeler has thrown 114 1/3 innings so far, and he will likely be held to less than 180. ... The wife of Mets C John Buck is due to deliver a baby Thursday, so Buck may take a three-day paternity leave. If so, the Mets could promote rookie C Travis d'Arnaud, who is in the minors rehabbing a broken foot.
