Garrett Cooper belted a two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth, sending the Marlins to a 3-1 victory over the Mets Saturday afternoon in Miami.
The Mets were lucky to have the game tied. The only run they scored was aided by a blown strike call. Richard Bleier certainly looked like he had Dominic Smith struck out to end the eighth inning. But the pitch was called a ball and Smith followed with an RBI single to tie the game.
Joey Lucchesi turned in his best game as a Met, hurling four scoreless innings with eight strikeouts before being lifted for a pinch-hitter. Despite the whiffs, Lucchesi had a low pitch count. It was a shock that he was removed from the game. Speculation from the booth was that maybe an injury was involved, although no confirmation came during the game.
Sean-Reid Foley came on in relief. He struggled but got out of the fifth inning and cruised through the sixth. But he put runners on the corners and was removed for Aaron Loup and the platoon advantage. Loup got the batter to hit a pop to shallow left. Cameron Maybe caught it and fired a ball high but right on target to the plate. It was going to be bang-bang at the plate but Nido couldn’t hang on to the ball and the Marlins went on top, 1-0.
The Mets could muster just five hits in the game, as offense continues to be a challenge. Maybin was 0-3 with three strikeouts. With the Mets this year, he’s 0-12 with 7 K’s. He really shouldn’t be hitting third.
I didn’t watch the game but it sounds like robo Rojas is back. Writes a script before the game starts and has no intention of deviating from the plan no matter what happens in game.
Lucchesi was unexpectedly dominant! He should have been out there in the 5th inning at least.
I realize that Rojas has backups to the backups playing now, but why is Maybin batting 3rd? When he hits a foul ball I get “excited”! Nido and Fargas are better hitters who could have been moved up in the order.
If that’s true than I hope he doesn’t last long. Give me a manager who watches the game and makes gut reads and has some balls. Managers win games with instinct… lose games with scripts, scared to act.
Gut Reaction: Lucchesi was dominant and shouldn’t have been removed. The needed a quality start (6 inning and 3 runs) and Lucchesi was providing it . It was a bad decision by Rojas. He could have saved some innings for his bullpen that is in the midst of a 17 game in a row schedule. This decision, coupled with the last Stroman early yank, is going to haunt them. The bullpen is showing wear.