Nieuwenhuis lifts Mets over Marlins to complete sweep
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Kirk Nieuwenhuis smoked a game-winning single in the bottom of the ninth inning to lift the New York Mets over the Miami Marlins, 3-2, on Thursday.
Two batters prior to Nieuwenhuis' single, Justin Turner tied the game at 2-2 following a 13-pitch walk during which he fouled off eight pitches.
"It was tremendous at-bat," Mets manager Terry Collins said of Turner's battle against Bell.
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Ramon Ramirez (2-1) picked up the win after working a scoreless eighth and ninth for the Mets, who swept the three-game set.
Heath Bell (0-3) threw 46 pitches and walked four batters in the ninth frame en route to his third blown save in five opportunities.
Gaby Sanchez smacked a solo homer for the Marlins, who went 0-5 on their road trip while scoring just six runs.
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"This road trip was very bad," Marlins manager Ozzie Guillen said. "We have to throw more strikes and get more hits. That's the only way I can describe it."
In his return to New York, Jose Reyes went 1-for-12 during the series. In fact, the trio of Reyes, Emilio Bonifacio and Hanley Ramirez went a combined 4-for-58 on Miami's road trip.
Nieuwenhuis led off the opening frame with his first career triple. He drove the ball deep into the right-center field gap, which hit off the glove of Giancarlo Stanton along the warning track. Ruben Tejada then brought him home with a sacrifice fly to right.
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The Marlins, though, led 2-1 after plating a run apiece in the third and fifth.
Sanchez launched a towering solo home run to left field in the third to tie the game at 1-1. Omar Infante led off the fifth with a double and Stanton followed with a single. Sanchez then grounded into a 4-6-3 double play, which plated Infante.
Bell, who blew just five saves a year ago, walked David Wright to begin the final inning. After Lucas Duda grounded out, Bell walked Ike Davis, Josh Thole and Turner in succession.
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With the bases loaded and one out, Scott Hairston grounded into a force at home to keep the game tied, but Nieuwenhuis singled over the head of Stanton to end the ball game.
The Mets were 0-for-15 with the bases loaded this season prior to Nieuwenhuis' base hit.
Game Notes
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Jonathon Niese allowed two runs on four hits while fanning six in a seven- inning start for New York...Ricky Nolasco gave up a run on five hits and one walk in seven innings for Miami.