Marlins Hit DeGrom Hard And Stop Mets' Winning Streak, 9-3
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NEW YORK (AP) — Jacob deGrom was hit hard during a rare dud at home against one of his favorite opponents, and the Miami Marlins stopped the New York Mets' eight-game winning streak with a 9-3 victory Tuesday night.
Mets nemesis Dee Gordon homered and had four hits to back Tom Koehler, who plunked Yoenis Cespedes in the first inning and then helped silence the streaking slugger the rest of the way.
New York's commanding lead in the NL East was trimmed to 8 1/2 games over Washington, which beat Philadelphia 4-0. The magic number remained 10 for the Mets to clinch their sixth division title.
Christian Yelich had three hits and two RBIs following a surprise meeting with his "Saturday Night Live" doppelganger, and Justin Bour also had three hits and two RBIs.
Pitching close to his suburban New York hometown, Koehler (10-13) was lifted after walking the first two batters in the seventh. But lefty reliever Mike Dunn struck out Curtis Granderson, Cespedes and Daniel Murphy in succession as the Mets were thwarted in their attempt to put together yet another late comeback.
Last season's NL Rookie of the Year, deGrom (13-8) got the ball on the anniversary of a striking performance. The right-hander whiffed the first eight Marlins batters at Citi Field on Sept. 15, 2014, matching the major league record to start a game since 1900.
He entered with a 1.63 ERA in 23 career starts at home — and 3-0 with a 1.80 ERA against Miami overall. But the Marlins pounded him for six runs and a season-high 10 hits in five innings.
It was the first time deGrom allowed more than three earned runs in a start at Citi Field.
The crowd chanted "MVP! MVP!" as Cespedes stepped to the plate in the first inning, and he was hit near the left hip on the first pitch he saw from Koehler, a 92 mph fastball.
Cespedes stared out toward the mound before taking his base.
It appeared to be retaliation for Monday night, when Cespedes held his bat aloft and admired a 442-foot drive off Marlins left-hander Justin Nicolino for his ninth home run this month.
Cespedes didn't slide on a force play at second and appeared to step on the foot of shortstop Miguel Rojas. Then in the seventh, Mets reliever Erik Goeddel threw behind Koehler as the pitcher squared to bunt. Plate umpire Dale Scott warned both benches immediately after the wild pitch, and there was no further trouble.
Koehler scored in the fifth after driving a double to right field for his first extra-base hit in 134 major league at-bats.
TWINS
Before the game, the Marlins surprised Yelich by arranging a meeting with "Saturday Night Live" funnyman Pete Davidson, who certainly bears an unusual resemblance to the Gold Glove outfielder. The two have participated in a running joke online this season about how much they look alike. Davidson dressed in a separate locker room — complete with a No. 21 jersey that had Yelich's name on the back — and joined the team on the field as giggling players stretched for batting practice.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Marlins: RF Giancarlo Stanton went to a hand specialist for another opinion on his broken left wrist but there was still no specific target date for his return. The slugger took batting practice on the field Monday. "Hopefully, we'll get a final answer today," manager Dan Jennings said. "One final check." ... RHP Carter Capps (strained right elbow) is scheduled to throw a simulated game Friday in Washington. ... SS Adeiny Hechavarria (left hamstring tightness) has been taking batting practice and grounders but isn't quite ready to run full speed. "They're moving closer in a big hurry," Jennings said, referring to all three players.
Mets: Manager Terry Collins thinks 1B Lucas Duda just needs big league plate appearances to get back in a groove. Duda flied out to the warning track twice and is hitless in his last 14 at-bats. He is 3 for 25 (.120) since coming off the disabled list Sept. 7 from a lower back injury. ... Rookie LHP Dario Alvarez stumbled on the mound for a ninth-inning balk and limped off the field with what Collins said was a groin injury.
UP NEXT
New York RHP Bartolo Colon (14-11) faces LHP Adam Conley (3-1) in the series finale Wednesday night. The 42-year-old Colon has won four straight starts, including a shutout Sept. 5 in Miami — the only complete game by a Mets pitcher this season. His scoreless streak was snapped at 31 innings during his most recent outing at Atlanta.
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