Marlins Overcome Mets 3-2
MIAMI (CBSMiami/AP) – Miguel Rojas' two-run single capped a three-run rally in the eighth inning Wednesday night, spoiling Taijuan Walker's longest start in more than four years and sending the Miami Marlins to a 3-2 victory over the New York Mets.
Miami snapped a seven-game losing streak while the Mets lost for the 11th time in 14 games.
New York jumped to a 2-0 lead when Michael Conforto — an impending free agent who could be playing his final homestand with the Mets — hit a 469-foot homer off Elieser Hernandez in the fourth and Brandon Nimmo laced a two-out RBI double in the fifth.
The homer by Conforto was the longest of the season by a New York player and the second-longest of his career, behind a 472-foot drive against the Chicago Cubs in 2018.
Walker, who hadn't recorded an out in the eighth since he tossed eight innings for Arizona on April 27, 2017, carried a one-hit shutout into the eighth Wednesday before giving up a leadoff double to Lewin Diaz.
After Lewis Brinson popped out, Eddy Alvarez chased Walker by working a four-pitch walk.
Alex Jackson, who singled in the third for the Marlins' first hit, greeted Seth Lugo (4-3) with an RBI double. Pinch-hitter Nick Fortes struck out before Rojas blooped his go-ahead single.
Walker walked three and struck out five. He went 0-8 with a 7.13 ERA in 13 second-half starts and finished the season with a 4.47 ERA in 159 innings, his most since 2015.
Steven Okert (3-1) allowed one hit in a scoreless seventh. Richard Bleier tossed a one-hit eighth before Dylan Floro threw a perfect ninth for his 13th save.
Hernandez permitted two runs and six hits with no walks and six strikeouts in five innings.
SOMETHING ABOUT NOTHING
With "Seinfeld" debuting Friday on Netflix, lifelong Mets fan Jerry Seinfeld visited with Marlins manager Don Mattingly before the game and spent the fourth inning in the Mets' television booth. The first 10,000 fans received T-shirts with the Mets and the "Seinfeld" logos on the front and SEINFELD 00 and the Netflix logo on the back. Strikeouts by Mets pitchers were accompanied by the "Seinfeld" theme.
REUNITED
Walker and Hernandez opposed each other in unusual fashion at Citi Field on Aug. 31, when the Mets and Marlins completed a game suspended by rain with one out in the top of the first on April 11. Walker relieved Marcus Stroman and tossed 4 2/3 innings while Hernandez went five innings and was credited with a start upon replacing John Curtiss, who was slated to start for Miami but was traded to Milwaukee on July 30.
THE LAST TIME?
In what could have been his final at-bat if the universal DH is implemented next season, Walker legged out an infield single in the fifth for his fourth hit in his last seven at-bats dating to Aug. 25, shortly after the natural right-handed-hitter began batting from the left side in order to avoid injuries.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Marlins: RHP Pablo Lopez (rotator cuff) ran in the outfield before the game. The Marlins hope he can pitch in one of their final four games.
Mets: Backup catcher Tomas Nido (left thumb) was placed on the 10-day injured list. It's the third trip to the IL with a left thumb injury this season for Nido. C Patrick Mazeika was recalled from Triple-A Syracuse. … Manager Luis Rojas said RHPs Robert Gsellman (right lat) and Drew Smith (shoulder) still have a chance to return this week.
UP NEXT
Marlins: Rookie RHP Edward Cabrera (0-3, 5.79) ERA will make his seventh career start.
Mets: Another rookie, RHP Tylor Megill (3-6, 4.78), will look to end his season on a positive note after posting a 12.86 ERA in his past two starts.
(© Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
