NYM 11, MIA 4; Marlins get blown out in series opener versus Mets

The Miami Marlins took a pounding in the series opener versus the New York Mets. The Fish struggled in all aspects—especially pitching—as they lost 11-4. It was an embarrassing performance by the Fish as they were overmatched the entire game.

The Marlins got things going in the bottom of the first with a leadoff single by Jonathan Villar. With one out, Matt Joyce doubled to center field scoring Villar making it 1-0. The Fish had their chances to add to their lead after Brian Anderson walked. Lewin Díaz flew out to center after a tough at-bat. Francisco Cervelli drew a four-pitch walk loading the bases. Second baseman Eddy Alvarez couldn’t come through as he grounded out to first to end the inning.

The top of the second was a difficult one for starting pitcher Jordan Yamamoto. He began the inning off with a leadoff walk. Robinson Cano singled to shallow left field and Pete Alonso walked to load the bases with no outs.

Dominic Smith doubled to deep right scoring two and giving the Mets the lead. Yamamoto would record a crucial out thanks to Anderson throwing out Alonso at home. The Mets would still add to their lead thanks to another double by Amed Rosario scoring one making it 3-1.

Marlins skipper Don Mattingly pulled Yamamoto after only 1 ¹⁄₃ innings. He allowed three hits, three runs, two walks and one strikeout. Unsurprisingly, the right-hander was optioned to the alternate training site in Jupiter afterwards, the team announced.

Relief pitcher Sterling Sharp came in relief. He limited the damage for the Fish as he got a groundout and strikeout to leave two runners in scoring position.

In the bottom of the second, the Fish had their opportunities to score but failed to capitalize. Jon Berti led the inning off with a hit by pitch. Magneuris Sierra would reach first on a fielder’s choice as Berti was out at second. Sierra would later steal second. Villar also reached first on a fielder’s choice as Sierra was thrown trying to advance to third. Jesus Aguilar singled through the left side putting runners on first and second with two down.

The Mets would then pulled their starter, Robert Gsellman. The right-hander threw 1 ²⁄₃ innings allowing three hits, one run, two walks and a strikeout. Left-handed pitcher Chasen Shreve came in relief for Gsellman. Shreve would get the job done as he struck out Matt Joyce to end the inning and left two runners on base for the Fish.

The Mets would add to their lead in the top of the third. J,D. Davis led the inning with a hit by pitch. Michael Conforto would strikeout looking but Robinson Canó homered to right making it 5-1.

The Mets couldn’t had a chance to increase their lead with runners on second and third but Rosario grounded out to third to end the top of the third.

After a quick inning for the Marlins, the Mets led off the top of the fourth with two walks by Brandon Nimmo and Jeff McNeil. Davis would ground into a 5-3 double play leaving a runner on second base for Michael Conforto. Mattingly would pull Sharp from the game.

Sharp established a new career high with 2 ¹⁄₃ innings pitched, allowing three hits, two runs, two walks and two strikeouts.

Left-hander Josh D. Smith came in relief for the Fish (his 2020 season debut). Conforto would reach first on a hit by pitch putting runners on first and second for Canó. The Dominican second baseman would strike out swinging preventing the Mets from adding to their lead.

The Mets added another run to their lead in the top of the fifth as Alonso homered to left on the first pitch making it 6-1 Mets. Dominic Smith grounded out to the pitcher, Wilson Ramos struck out swinging and Amed Rosario struck out looking to end the inning.

Heading into the bottom of the fifth, the Mets finally pulled Shreve from the game. He had a strong outing as he pitched two innings allowing no hits, no runs, no walks and five strikeouts. Right-handed pitcher Jeurys Familia came in relief.

The Marlins would finally get back on the scoreboard as Jonathan Villar homered to dead center on the first pitch making it 6-2 Mets.

Aguilar would struck out swinging, Joyce grounded out to third and Anderson lined out to right field to end the fifth.

Heading into the top of the sixth, Mattingly pulled Josh D. Smith from the game. Smith threw 1 ¹⁄₃ innings allowing one hit, one run, no walks and three strikeouts. Right-handed pitcher Justin Shafer came in relief for the Fish.

Brandon Nimmo welcomed Shafer to the game with a leadoff triple down the right field line. After the triple, McNeil hit a sacrifice fly to right scoring Nimmo and increasing their lead 7-2.

Davis would then draw a walk, Conforto flew out to center but Canó would smack a two-run making it 9-2. It was his 24^th multi-home run game of his career. Alonso would go back-to-back jacks as he homered to deep left field making it 10-2. After Smith reached first on a HBP, Ramos fouled out to first as Lewin Diaz reached over the railing to make the catch.

After one inning of work, Familia’s night was over. He allowed a solo home run off Villar but the Marlins didn’t do anything else. Relief pitcher Brad Brach came in relief for the Mets.

After Diaz grounded out to first, the Fish had back-to-back singles by Cervelli and Alvarez. Berti would fly out to center field but Sierra singled through the right side, loading the bases for Villar with two outs. Villar wouldn’t come through as he flew out to center ending the inning.

After Shafer’s one inning of work, he was replaced by right-handed pitcher Josh A. Smith. Shafer had an outing to forget as he threw one inning allowing three hits, four runs and a walk.

The Mets made another pitching change after Brach’s one inning of work. Brach also three hits but was able to keep the Fish from cutting into the Mets lead. Right-hander Franklyn Kilome came in relief.

After getting Aguilar to ground out, Joyce worked the count full and drew a walk. Anderson would reach first on a fielder’s choice as Alonso threw out Joyce at second. Diaz would walk putting runners on first and second with two outs.

Backup catcher Ryan Lavarnway came up to the plate after replacing Cervelli but didn’t do anything as Diaz was out at second on a fielder’s choice.

After a clean seventh, Smith started to struggle in the top of the eighth. After Davis lined out to center, Conforto doubled down the right field line and Alonso walked. With two outs, Dominic Smith reached first on a broken bat infield single loading the bases for Ramos. The Mets catcher didn’t come through as flew out to center ending the top of the eighth.

Heading into the top of the ninth, the Marlins had infielder Logan Forsythe on the mound.

Amed Rosario was the first batter that Forsythe faced as he singled to right field. Nimmo flew out to left and McNeil singled to left putting runners on the corners with one down.

Davis drew a walk which loaded the bases for Billy Hamilton. The speedy outfielder would hit a sacrifice fly to left scoring Rosario making it 11-2. Andrew Gimenez flew out to right to end the top of the ninth and Forsythe’s MLB pitching debut.

In the bottom of the ninth, Monte Harrison came in for Joyce and led the inning off with a double down the left field line. Lewis Brinson, who replaced Brian Anderson, struck out swinging. Díaz singled up the middle as that scored Harrison giving Díaz is his first MLB career RBI.

Fish Stripes original GIF

Lavarnway would also get a base knock to right as Díaz advances to second. Alvarez worked the count full and drew a walk to load the bases with one out. Berti would record his first hit of the game with a single through the left side scoring Díaz making it 11-4. Sierra would fly out to left giving the Mets two outs. Villar would be the final batter of the game as he flew out to right to end the game.

Marlins starting pitcher Jordan Yamamoto gets his first loss of the season. It’s also the first time in 2020 that Miami has lost a game with Sierra in the starting lineup (previously 6-0). Mets relief pitcher Chasen Shreve gets the win as that’s his first win of the season. Right-handed pitcher Franklyn Kilmore recorded a three-inning save as that’s his first save of his MLB career.

The Marlins will look for a better outcome Tuesday night against the New York Mets. It will be right-handed pitcher Humberto Mejía battling left-handed pitcher David Peterson for the Mets. First pitch is at 7:10 pm EST.

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Marlins vs. Mets box score

Fish Picks Answer Key

1. Marlins
2. Over
3. Under
4. Yes
5. Mets