Miami, FL (SportsNetwork.com) - Casey McGehee slugged the game-winning single with one out in the bottom of the ninth, capping a four-run rally and sending Miami past the New York Mets by a 4-3 count in the first edition of a three- game set.
Christian Yelich began the final frame with a leadoff single against Scott Rice (0-1), then Gonzalez German entered but gave up a sacrifice bunt from Ed Lucas and intentionally walked Giancarlo Stanton. McGehee hit a ball that deflected off the mound and skittered into right field to plate Yelich with the winning run.
Steve Cishek (2-1) tossed a scoreless top of the ninth to snag the win.
Stanton and Jarrod Saltalamacchia each contributed an RBI during a three-run eighth for the Marlins, who have won six of their last seven overall.
"All our wins, especially this home stand, everybody feels like they've been a part of it," McGehee said. "It's always a good thing when you have 25 guys feeling like their contributing."
Nathan Eovaldi allowed five hits and three runs over seven full frames, but fanned a season-high 10 batters.
Curtis Granderson and Daniel Murphy hit solo homers and Bobby Abreu knocked in the other run for the Mets, who were coming off losing three of four in Colorado.
Jon Niese tossed seven scoreless innings, giving up five hits and a walk while fanning six.
Murphy and Granderson each slugged a solo homer within a three-batter span in the first inning to get the Mets on the board.
David Wright started the fourth with a double, moved up on a Granderson base hit and scored New York's third run on an Abreu sacrifice fly.
Everything went in the Marlins' favor once Niese was replaced by Daisuke Matsuzaka to start the eighth. Yelich and Lucas worked back-to-back walks to start, then Stanton's single plated Yelich, New York shortstop Omar Quintanilla's error on a McGehee grounder scored Lucas and Saltalamacchia's double brought in Stanton for a 3-3 game.
"I saw it knuckling for a while and I tried to get in front of it, and it just ducked right under my glove," Quintanilla said of his error. "It was a big play and it changed the game."
Kyle Farnsworth entered and retired Jeff Baker on a groundout but intentionally walked pinch-hitter Garrett Jones to load the bases. Adeiny Hechavarria fanned for the second out, and Marcell Ozuna grounded out to keep the game deadlocked.
Game Notes
Miami improved to 8-11 all-time on Cinco de Mayo ... Prior to the contest, Marlins starter Jose Fernandez was honored as the NL's pitcher of the month, after going 4-1 with a 1.59 ERA and a league-high 65 strikeouts ... Mets outfielder Juan Lagares' 13-game hit streak came to an end when he did not register a hit in his lone at-bat as a late defensive replacement ... Niese has gone 10 consecutive starts allowing three runs or less.
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