The Miami Marlins snatched victory from the jaws of defeat on Saturday night against the New York Mets. After falling behind 5-1 early, the Marlins used home runs by Giancarlo Stanton ans Jarrod Saltalamacchia to turn the tables on the Mets.
In the early going, Saturday night had an all too familiar look: the Marlins trailing a division opponent on the road needing their bullpen to keep the game within reach until (and if) the bats could come to the rescue.
Kevin Slowey, making his second start of the season, was unable to stifle the Mets' bats. He left the game after four largely ineffective innings, with the Marlins trailing 5-1, handing the game over to a succession of middle relievers, starting with Brad Hand.
The Marlins bats finally awakened in the sixth inning, starting with a 2-run homer by Giancarlo Stanton which drove in Marcell Ozuna and increased Stanton's MLB RBI lead to 29 RBIs. It was at this point that Mets starter Jenrry Mejia imploded, giving up a walk and two singles, including an RBI single by Adeiny Hechavarria which drove Mejia from the game. Reed Johnson closed out the Marlins 5-run sixth inning with a 2 RBI double off of Mets reliever Carlos Torres.
The Marlins bullpen, which had been having a rough go of it so far in 2014, came through in a big way on Sarurday night. Hand, Dan Jennings, Mike Dunn and Steve Cishek combined to pitch six innings while only giving up one unearned run.
The game remained tied at 6 apiece through the end of nine innings. Jarrod Saltalamacchia led off the top of the 10th inning by hitting a shot off of Mets closer du jour Kyle Farnsworth over the right field wall. The ball bounced back onto the field, but was correctly ruled a home run. That run would be all Steve Cishek would need as he retired the Mets in the bottom of the 10th while only giving up a walk on a questionable ball 4 call.
The Marlins will look to win their first road series on Sunday as they send Tom Koehler to the mound for the series finale against the Mets in New York. The Marlins will then fly back to Miami and take Monday off before starting a home series against the Atlanta Braves on Tuesday night.