NEW YORK – The Marlins showed once again that they are not pushovers. In fact, call them spoilers.
With the Mets in the pennant race, Miami took advantage of New York’s defensive lapses in a 7-4 victory Thursday night at Citi Field.
The game went back and forth and was tied at 4-4 going into the top of the seventh inning. But the Marlins did the little things to take the lead.
With Mets reliever Gregory Soto on the mound, Jakob Marsee led off with a single. Liam Hicks followed and hit a routine ground ball to first baseman Pete Alonso, who fumbled the exchange while trying to get the forceout, putting runners on first and second.
Agustín Ramírez followed and singled to left field. Marsee was going to stop at third base, but outfielder Brandon Nimmo bobbled the ball, which allowed Marsee to score the go-ahead run.
After pinch-hitter Eric Wagaman struck out, Ramírez and Hicks advanced to second and third on a passed ball by catcher Hayden Senger. With the infield in, Otto Lopez hit a ground ball to second baseman Jeff McNeil, but McNeil was unable to get Hicks at the plate, and the Marlins had a two-run lead. Heriberto Hernández then hit a sacrifice fly to send Ramírez home.
The bullpen, led by Cade Gibson, shut out the Mets for the final three innings.