Rare Mets road series win led by deGrom’s arm, Canó’s bat

The Miami Marlins opened the second half of the regular season Friday night with a bang, smacking out three homers en route to an 8-4 victory. Falling 4-2 Saturday, the Marlins were seeking a series win in the rubber match of a three-game weekend series versus the New York Mets. Jacob deGrom tossed five innings, striking out six, and Robinson Canó homered for the second consecutive contest, as the Mets overpowered the Marlins Sunday at Marlins Park, 6-2.

Sandy Alcantara’s first pitch of the ballgame was one to forget, as Jeff McNeil sent one to right in the bullpen, giving New York a quick and early 1-0 lead.

Alcantara was pitching for the first time since getting the nod in the eighth inning for the National League in the All-Star Game this past Tuesday night in Cleveland, giving up four earned runs in six innings of work, needing 97 pitches.

Miami jumped back in the second against deGrom, after Starlin Castro singled and Curtis Granderson walked to begin the frame. With the bases full and two down, Miguel Rojas, who finished 3-for-5, lined a two-out single to right, tying the ballgame at one. Knocking out deGrom after just five innings was extremely crucial for the Marlins, hoping to attack a Mets bullpen that struggled heavily prior to the All-Star break.

Alcantara walked into major trouble in the fourth, loading the bases with zero outs. Adeiny Hechavarria, the very next hitter, sent a grounder to Rojas. Hesitating for a brief moment, Rojas threw to first rather than home, resulting in a 2-1 New York advantage.

Two batters later, Michael Conforto—who homered off the foul pole Saturday—reached on an infield single to second, after Conforto beat Starlin Castro’s throw to first, extending the Mets’ lead to 3-1. The Marlins had numerous chances Sunday, finishing 1-for-10 with runners in scoring position and leaving twelve men on the base paths. McNeil, in the sixth, reached on a throwing error from Garrett Cooper, after Cooper’s throw to second sailed above, bringing home Hechavarria.

Miami managed to load the bases in the home half of the seventh with one down, but a Brian Anderson called strike three and Castro’s force out to second ended the threat. Garrett Cooper’s 10th homer of 2019 with two down in the ninth trimmed New York’s lead to 6-2.

The Marlins, with a rest day Monday, will hit the playing field Tuesday night at Marlins Park, opening a three-game weekday series versus the San Diego Padres. Righty Jordan Yamamoto, who quieted a deep and talented Atlanta lineup on July 5 with six shutout innings, will take the baseball for Miami. This will be Yamamoto’s sixth career start and first against the Padres. San Diego has yet to announce an official starter. First pitch is scheduled for 7:10 p.m.

Mets vs. Marlins box score (Baseball Theater)