Marlins 9, Mets 3
NEW YORK -- Second baseman Dee Gordon had four hits, including a two-run homer in the ninth inning, and right-handed pitcher Tom Koehler wriggled out of numerous jams Tuesday night as the Miami Marlins snapped the New York Mets' eight-game winning streak with a 9-3 victory at Citi Field.
The Marlins (62-83) ended a two-game losing streak.
The Mets (83-62) are 10-4 this month but 2-3 against the Marlins. New York's magic number for winning the National League East remained 10 by virtue of its loss and the Washington Nationals' 4-0 win over the Philadelphia Phillies. The Nationals are 8 1/2 games back.
Gordon singled on the first pitch of the game from Mets right-hander Jacob deGrom, struck out in the third, singled and scored in the fifth and singled in the seventh before hitting his third homer of the season in the ninth. The big night raised his average to .331, second in the NL behind Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper (.338).
Center fielder Christian Yelich was 3-for-5 with a fifth-inning RBI double and a run-scoring groundout in the seventh. First baseman Justin Bour finished 3-for-5 with two RBIs.
Koehler, who grew up less than 20 miles north of Citi Field in New Rochelle, allowed one run on five hits and four walks while striking out four in improving to 10-13.
The Mets stranded five runners in scoring position over the first six innings before Koehler was lifted after walking the first two batters of the seventh. Left-hander Mike Dunn entered and struck out all three batters he faced.
Mets third baseman David Wright had an RBI double in the first. In the eighth, catcher Travis d'Arnaud delivered an RBI groundout and shortstop Ruben Tejada (2-for-4) laced an RBI single. Rookie left fielder Michael Conforto had two hits.
DeGrom (13-8) took the loss after allowing six runs on 10 hits and no walks while striking out five over five innings. He has a 6.41 ERA in his last five starts.
The Mets scored in the first on a one-out RBI double by Wright, but left the bases loaded when catcher Travis d'Arnaud and first baseman Lucas Duda popped out.
The Marlins had two hits through three scoreless innings before tagging deGrom for three runs in the fourth and three more in the fifth.
Miami opened the fourth with four straight hits, including an RBI double by Bour and an RBI single by right fielder Marcell Ozuna. Bour scored the third run on a sacrifice fly by catcher J.T. Realmuto.
DeGrom was chased after the fifth, when Yelich laced an RBI double, third baseman Martin Prado lofted a sacrifice fly and Bour drove home Yelich with a single to center.
NOTES: Mets manager Terry Collins said Monday that RHP Logan Verrett, who threw five solid innings in a spot start in place of RHP Matt Harvey, will start when the Mets need to again skip one of their young starters. ... Entering Tuesday, Mets RHP Jeurys Familia needed just two saves to tie RHP Armando Benitez for the season franchise record of 43. ... Marlins SS Adeiny Hechavarria (strained left hamstring) was out of the lineup for the 11th straight game. ... "Saturday Night Live" cast member Pete Davidson, who bears an uncanny resemblance to Marlins OF Christian Yelich, donned a Yelich jersey and mimicked OF Ichiro Suzuki's warmup before taking a few swings during batting practice. "There's some comparables," Marlins manager Dan Jennings said with a grin. "But I'll take our 'Yeli' at the plate."