Marlins 6, Mets 5
Jeff Mathis singled home the go-ahead run as visiting Miami scored three times in the eighth inning to spoil Jacob deGrom’s historic start and defeat New York in the opener of a three-game series.
Jordany Valdespin recorded two RBIs and Adeiny Hechavarria singled home a pair of runs in the eighth to tie the game for the Marlins before Mathis’ heroics. The rally took a victory away from deGrom, who tied Houston’s Jim Deshaies (1986) for the modern-day major-league record by striking out eight consecutive batters to begin the game.
Sam Dyson (3-1) retired one batter to get the win and Steve Cishek notched his 36th save in the ninth for the Marlins, who have won a major league-best 34 one-run games. Jeurys Familia (2-5) gave up three runs in the eighth for the loss after deGrom allowed three tallies and struck out a career-high 13 in seven innings.
Daniel Murphy singled in a run, Travis d’Arnaud lined an RBI double into the left-field corner and Curtis Granderson added a bases-loaded walk as the Mets took a 5-3 lead in the seventh. Hechavarria answered by lining a two-run single to right after three straight base hits loaded the bases and Mathis’ two-out single to right off closer Jenrry Mejia put Miami in front.
A single by d’Arnaud with two outs and a Lucas Duda walk in the first inning set the table for Wilmer Flores, who laced a two-run double to left-center field. Valdespin’s looping base hit brought home two runs and Reed Johnson’s sacrifice fly put the Marlins in front 3-2 in the top of the seventh.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Valdespin, a former Met, became the fourth different player in four games to start in RF for the Marlins in place of injured All-Star Giancarlo Stanton (facial fractures). … DeGrom also broke the franchise record for consecutive strikeouts to start a game that was set by Pete Falcone (six) in 1980. … Miami starter Jarred Cosart, who broke up deGrom’s strikeout streak with a single in the third, allowed two runs on five hits with five strikeouts over six innings.