Miami, FL – Juan Pierre scored the game-winning run on Brandon Lyon's ninth-inning, bases-loaded wild pitch, as the Miami Marlins again rallied for a 2-1 victory over the slumping New York Mets in the middle test of a three-game set at Marlins Park.
Chris Coghlan and Juan Pierre reached safely to put runners on the corners to open up the ninth, Donovan Solano poked an RBI single to right to tie the game. Lyon, who was dealt with a blown save, then replaced starter Jeremy Hefner and was forced to intentionally walk Placido Polanco. His breaking ball attempt in the dirt, though, scooted past Anthony Recker to easily score Pierre for the game-winner.
The N.L. East rivals met less than 24 hours following Monday's 15-inning, 5- hour, 31-minute marathon which the Marlins won, 4-3. Tuesday's game, however, lasted just 2 hours and 25 minutes.
Miami, which has won three straight, saw starter Kevin Slowey last eight innings and allow a run on eight hits. Ryan Webb (1-1) picked up the win with a perfect ninth.
"We're trying to find ways to win," Pierre said. "We found all the ways to lose. Now we're trying to get on the winning side."
Recker's sacrifice fly in the fifth proved to be the only offense for the Mets, who extended their season-high losing streak to six games and once again let a late lead slip away versus the Marlins. Hefner (0-3) tossed eight-plus innings and was tabbed for two runs on four hits, though he did strikeout eight in defeat.
"That's my job to go out and give length, go deep in the games, and for the most part, I did that," Hefner said. "I wish I could have finished it, though."
In similar fashion to Monday's game-tying ninth-inning rally, Miami broke out the bats when it mattered most. Coghlan led off the frame with a pinch-hit single and quickly advanced to second on Hefner's wild pitch.
The Mets looked to catch a break as the next batter, Pierre, dropped a bunt down in front of home plate and Recker attempted to throw Coghlan out at third. David Wright applied the tag as Coghlan appeared to overslide the base, but was ruled safe to keep runners on the corners with no outs.
"Sometimes the calls go your way, sometimes they don't," Wright added. "What we need to do a better job of is offensively going out there and scoring more runs. You can't expect to win games, 1-0."
New York's only offense came in the fifth. Daniel Murphy smacked a leadoff double and Ike Davis followed with a deep fly to center which moved Murphy to third. Recker then made it 1-0 with a sac fly to left.
Game Notes
Hefner's last victory came versus Miami on October 3, 2012 ... The Mets have lost in all of his six starts this season ... Slowey is still searching for his first win since September 18, 2010, while with Minnesota ... Miami outfielder Giancarlo Stanton was sent to the 15-day disabled list Tuesday with a strained hamstring he suffered in Monday's win ... It's the Marlins' first three-game winning streak since July 4-6 of last season ... The Mets have scored 11 total runs during the losing skid.
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