Jorge Alfaro hit a tiebreaking RBI single in the eighth inning and the Miami Marlins beat the New York Mets 4-2 on Thursday, taking three of four from the sagging NL East leaders.

New York has lost six of eight overall and is 2-4 since its big trade-deadline acquisition, Javier Báez, made his debut. Báez went 0-for-5 with five strikeouts on Thursday and is hitting .160 (4 for 25) with the Mets.

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New York's underwhelming stretch has allowed Philadelphia and Atlanta to creep closer in the division race. The Phillies entered Thursday trailing the Mets by 1 1/2 games and host New York in a three-game series this weekend.

Miguel Rojas drew a one-out walk against Jeurys Familia (5-2) and advanced to second on Jazz Chisholm’s single. Alfaro’s line drive to right scored Rojas, whose slide eluded catcher James McCann’s tag. Lewis Brinson followed with a two-run double.

Ross Detwiler (2-1) got the final two outs in the top of the eighth.

Brandon Drury had a two-out RBI single in the ninth for New York, but Anthony Bender retired Albert Almora for the final out and his second save.

New York stranded 15 baserunners and wasted the best start by Rich Hill since the Mets acquired him from Tampa Bay. Hill allowed three hits and one unearned run in five innings.

Jonathan Villar's RBI single against Marlins reliever David Hess tied it in the sixth. Hess was lifted with the bases loaded and Paul Campbell retired Dominic Smith on a flyball to left.

Campbell returned Tuesday after serving an 80-game suspension for violating baseball's performance-enhancing drug policy.

Miami starter Braxton Garrett pitched five scoreless innings. Recalled from Triple-A Jacksonville before the game, Garrett allowed five hits, struck out six and walked four.

Chisholm had an RBI single in the third for the Marlins after Miguel Rojas hit an opposite-field single, advanced to second on right fielder Michael Conforto’s fielding error and stole third.

Garrett escaped a bases-loaded jam with no out in the first by striking out J.D. Davis and Báez and retiring Conforto on a flyball to center. Garrett also struck out Báez with two on to end the fifth.

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ROSTER MOVE

The Marlins designated RHP Austin Pruitt for assignment to clear the roster spot for Garrett. Pruitt and OF Bryan De La Cruz were acquired by Miami in a trade with the Houston Astros for RHP Yimi García July 28.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Mets: OF Brandon Nimmo (hamstring) was not in the starting lineup. Nimmo walked as a pinch-hitter in the sixth.

UP NEXT

Mets: RHP Marcus Stroman (7-10, 2.80 ERA) will start the opener of a three-game series at Philadelphia on Friday.

Marlins: RHP Sandy Alcantara (6-9, 3.12) will make his 23rd start of the season in the series opener Friday at Colorado.