Derek Hill hit a go-ahead single with two outs in the eighth inning, leading the Miami Marlins to a 3-2 win over the New York Mets on Sunday.
Nick Fortes had a sacrifice fly, and Hill made a great catch in the first inning to help the Marlins avoid a three-game sweep. Hill also scored the tying run on a wild pitch by Huascar Brazobán in the seventh inning.
“It’s always nice to win a close game — just kind of prove to yourself and to the team that we’ve got what it takes to win these ballgames,” Hill said.
Miami became the first team to win a game despite having three runners picked off since the New York Yankees beat Toronto 4-2 in June 1991. Emmanuel Rivera and Xavier Edwards were picked off first base by Mets starter Paul Blackburn, and Edwards was also picked off second base by Reed Garrett.
“On the bases, not so great. You’re going to have those days,” Marlins manager Skip Schumaker said. “You’re going to have some days with a young team — guys are still learning at this level and taking a shot at different times. You’re going to have some teaching moments, for sure.”
Garrett (7-5) walked three of the five batters he faced before Hill’s single to left field against Phil Maton put Miami ahead 3-2. Jeff McNeil made a strong throw to the plate, but the ball came out of catcher Francisco Alvarez’s mitt as he tried to tag Jonah Bride.
Andrew Nardi (3-1) struck out two batters, and Declan Cronin got pinch-hitter J.D. Martinez to ground into an inning-ending double play in the eighth. Calvin Faucher earned his third save with a scoreless ninth inning.
Francisco Lindor tried for a three-run homer in the ninth, but defensive replacement Cristian Pache made a great catch on his long drive at the center-field warning track.
“I wasn’t happy when I saw it off the bat,” Schumaker said with a grin. “Just a great play.”
Lindor had an RBI single in the fifth inning for the Mets, who are now two games behind Atlanta for the third NL wild card spot. Lindor is hitting .358 (19 for 53) with eight RBIs during a 12-game hitting streak.
“Today might leave a little bit of a bad taste in our mouth, but we’ve still got a long way to go,” Blackburn said. “We can’t dwell on something like this.”
