Luis Robert Jr. came up with the decisive moment in the eighth inning, driving in two runs with a tiebreaking single to help the New York Mets secure a 4-2 victory over the Miami Marlins in the opener of their four-game series on Thursday.
After Marlins reliever Michael Petersen retired the first two batters of the inning, Bo Bichette doubled, Carson Benge singled and stole second, setting the stage for Robert’s clutch hit to left field.
Mets vs Marlins: Pitchers Shine in Low-Scoring Contest
New York’s Francisco Lindor hit an RBI single during a two-run sixth inning, when he scored on an error by third baseman Graham Pauley.
Brooks Raley (5-5) tossed 1 2/3 innings of one-hit relief. Devin Williams recorded his 16th save with a hitless ninth as the Mets improved to 7-6 since the All-Star break.
Bichette finished with two hits.
Kyle Stowers and Jakob Marsee homered for the Marlins, who had their three-game winning streak snapped. Liam Hicks had two singles and a walk, and Pauley also singled twice.
The starting pitchers didn’t factor into the decision despite strong outings. New York’s Nolan McLean allowed two runs on six hits and two walks while striking out six over 6 1/3 innings. Miami’s Eury Perez was charged with two runs (one earned) on three hits and two walks while striking out six over six innings.
The Marlins got two runners beyond first base in the first three innings before Stowers homered on McLean’s third pitch in the fourth.
Perez retired the first eight batters he faced before walking Francisco Alvarez on a 3-2 pitch. The right-hander set down the next six batters before Marcus Semien singled cleanly to left with two outs in the fifth.
The Mets took the lead in the sixth. Alvarez walked again leading off the inning, went to second on A.J. Ewing’s groundout and scored on Lindor’s single to right. Lindor moved to third on Bichette’s single and raced home when Pauley misplayed Robert’s two-out grounder to third.
The lead lasted just one out into the seventh before Marsee homered on a 3-0 fastball.
(With inputs from Reuters)

