Miami 2 at NY Mets 5 - Recap

NEW YORK -- Noah Syndergaard threw seven impressive innings Sunday night, when Jay Bruce and Michael Conforto each hit long solo homers to help the New York Mets beat the Miami Marlins 5-2 at Citi Field.

Syndergaard (1-0), who left his first start on Opening Day after six shutout innings due to a popped blister on his right middle finger, allowed two runs (one earned) on five hits and no walks. He struck out nine.

He only ran into trouble in the third, when Dee Gordon hit a two-run double before catcher Rene Rivera threw out Gordon and J.T. Realmuto stealing for the final two outs, and the fifth, when he whiffed Gordon to escape a two-on, two-out jam.

Fernando Salas threw a perfect eighth inning and Addison Reed earned his first save with a 1-2-3 ninth as the Mets avoided being swept in the three-game series.

Neil Walker had an RBI single and Conforto drew a bases-loaded walk during a three-run first. Bruce homered to center in the fifth and Conforto, who was making his first start of the season, followed with a blast to right in the sixth.

Marlins right-hander Edinson Volquez (0-1) took the loss after giving up five runs (four earned) on seven hits and one walk while striking out seven over six innings.

Derek Dietrich had two hits for the Marlins.

The Mets batted around while taking a 3-0 lead in the first. After Asdrubal Cabrera and Yoenis Cespedes each laced one-out singles, Bruce grounded to first baseman Justin Bour, who fired home in plenty of time to get Cabrera. But catcher Realmuto dropped the ball and Cabrera coasted home.

Walker followed with an RBI single, and another single by Lucas Duda loaded the bases for Conforto, who drew a four-pitch walk to force home Bruce,

The Marlins pulled within 3-2 in the third, when Dietrich doubled and went to third when Cespedes dropped Miguel Rojas' sinking liner for a two-base error. Both runners scored one out later when Gordon doubled down the third base line.

Bruce's homer to straightaway center field with two outs in the fifth extended the Mets' lead to 4-2.

NOTES: The Marlins recalled INF J.T. Riddle from Triple-A New Orleans and placed SS Adeiny Hechavarria (left oblique) on the 10-day disabled list. Hechavarria was injured during batting practice Saturday but played through the discomfort. ... RHP Fernando Salas has appeared in five of the Mets' first six games.