Cespedes helps Mets overcome six-run deficit to stun Marlins
NEW YORK -- Yoenis Cespedes' two-run double with two outs in the eighth inning snapped a tie as the New York Mets overcame a six-run deficit to post an 8-6 win over the Miami Marlins at Citi Field on Monday.
The Mets (45-37) trailed 6-0 in the fourth inning before storming back to earn their fifth straight win. The Marlins (43-40) have lost five of seven.
Travis d'Arnaud, who homered for the Mets' first run in the fourth, opened the eighth with an infield single off Fernando Rodney (0-2). Two outs later, Neil Walker drew a walk and Cespedes hit a 2-2 pitch into the gap in left-center field.
Left-hander Jerry Blevins (3-0) earned the win by stranding a runner at third for the final out of the eighth. Right-hander Jeurys Familia notched his 29th save despite allowing a hit and walk in the ninth.
The comeback by the Mets spared right-hander Matt Harvey from another loss. He allowed six runs (five earned) on 11 hits and no walks while striking out four over 3 2/3 innings.
Marlins right-hander Tom Koehler permitted two runs on seven hits and one walk while striking out none over five innings.
The Marlins scored three runs in both the second and fourth innings against Harvey, who lasted just 3 2/3 innings for the second straight start.
Chris Johnson (single), Adeiny Hechavarria (double) and Koehler (single) all had run-scoring hits in the second, and the inning was extended by a successful Marlins challenge. Johnson was initially called out trying to take second on his hit, which gave the Marlins a 1-0 lead, but replay showed he beat the throw from d'Arnaud.
The Marlins chased Harvey with some help from the right-hander in the fourth, when they loaded the bases with one out before Harvey got Martin Prado to hit a comebacker. But Harvey threw the ball past d'Arnaud, which allowed Johnson to score, and Christian Yelich followed with a two-run single.
The Mets began chipping away via solo homers by d'Arnaud in the fourth and Curtis Granderson in the fifth before scoring twice apiece in the sixth and seventh. The first four Mets batters reached in the sixth, when d'Arnaud had an RBI single before pinch-hitter Kelly Johnson grounded into a run-scoring double play.
Walker drew a leadoff walk in the seventh and went to third on a double by Cespedes. Walker scored on a groundout by James Loney and Cespedes came home on a sacrifice fly by Wilmer Flores.
NOTES: The Mets played at home for the 33rd time on Independence Day while the Marlins went on the road for the 15th time. ... The Marlins arrived in New York around 2:30 a.m. ET Monday following their Sunday night game against the Atlanta Braves at the U.S. Army base in Fort Bragg, N.C. ... Marlins 1B Justin Bour (sprained right ankle) did not start and is day-to-day. ... Mets manager Terry Collins said INF Jose Reyes, who was signed to a minor league deal June 25 and is playing third base for Double-A Binghamton, would bat leadoff when he is promoted to the majors. ... RHP Justin Dunn, the Mets' first-round pick in last month's draft, was scheduled to make his professional debut Monday for short-season Class A Brooklyn.