MLB Scores: Marlins 6, Mets 8

The Mets were 17-32 on the road coming into this game, had not won three in a row on the road and Matt Harvey had not won on said road in two months, but the Marlins have proven a magical elixir for several teams over the course of the season, as the Mets beat Miami today by a final score of 8-6.

If you were to come upon this final score without opening up a box score, you may think that the game was a back and forth affair between two hard hitting offenses, but the reality is that the Mets looked like the superior, motivated team in every facet of the game right up until the bottom of the ninth inning.

David Phelps was hit hard, giving up four in the 3rd inning and three more in the fifth inning before being pulled. He gave up a grisly seven runs in four an a third's innings, walking three and striking out three. New Marlin Chris Narveson took his place and pitched quite effectively, going three and two third's innings only giving up two hits and striking out four, just what the doctor ordered for a thin Marlins pen. Matt Harvey for his part was his dominant self, giving up a mere two hits through seven innings, striking out six with no walks to his name.

Bottom of the ninth with Eric O'Flaherty on the mound, Derek Dietrich led things off with a single through the hole at 1st and 2nd. O'Flaherty got Christian Yelich down on strikes but then Justin Bour followed with a clean double in the right center gap that scored Dietrich from 1st and finally put the Fish on the board, 8-1. Martin Prado was then credited with an infield single on a tough play handled by Ruben Tejada, and the Marlins had 1st and 3rd with no outs. Ichiro then singled through the hole at short and 3rd, plating Bour for the second Marlins run, 8-2. Hansel Robles relieved O'Flaherty and struck out Adeiny Hechavarria. Robles then inexplicably walked light hitting Jeff Mathis to load the bases, and pinch-hitter Miguel Rojas delivered in a big way, lacing a double down the right field line that just bounced fair and cleared the bags of Fish, leaving the Mets and their fans feeling slightly uneasy at 8-5.

Terry Collins elected to go to Jeurys Familia at this point with Dee Gordon up at the dish. Gordon took a 0-1 pitch up the middle and Rojas scored easily, 8-6. Derek Dietrich came up again and hit a single that glanced off of Daniel Murphy's glove, just allowing him to reach safely, Gordon advancing to third. Christian Yelich came up as the potential winning run...

...and bounced a chopper to Lucas Duda to end the game. Not a great inning for Yelich, but at least the Marlins showed some life on offense that had been seriously lacking the entire homestand. Mets take the game 8-6 and sweep the series.

Of note, Derek Dietrich had a couple hits and was serenaded by a small but vocal group of fans throughout the game, whether he was up at the plate or not. It's hard to envision a scenario where Dietrich doesn't receive regular ABs throughout the remainder of the season. Also, the Phillies managed to lose and thus keep their hold on the #1 pick.

The Marlins travel to Atlanta to take on a familiar foe tomorrow, 7:10PM EST.

Source: FanGraphs

Attendance: 25,897

Hero of the Game: Matt Harvey (+.186)

Goat of the Game: David Phelps (-.316)

Play of the Game: Lucas Duda double in the third, scoring Daniel Murphy and Yoenis Cespedes (+.139)