A week after they swept the Mets in three games, the Marlins headed up to New York to take on the Mets at Citi Field. Game one on Friday was rained out, and it’s a good thing the teams didn’t try to play a doubleheader on Saturday because they did more than that without even trying. The Marlins and Mets finished a 20-inning marathon in just under six and a half hours Saturday evening.
Jose Fernandez got the nod for the Fish, and threw six quality innings, allowing only one run on three hits while striking out seven. But Kevin Slowey stole the pitching show long after Fernandez’s departure, throwing seven full innings, allowing zero runs on eight hits while striking out eight, and earned the win.
On the Mets’ side, starter Matt Harvey pitched seven full, and allowed only one run on six hits. Shaun Marcum pitched eight innings in relief (13th through 20th), and was charged with a loss. The game ended 2-1.
In the bottom of the second, Juan Lagares drove in the first and only of the Mets runs with a double into left-center. The Fish came back to tie the game in the top of the fourth on a Chris Coghlan sac fly, which scored Derek Dietrich. Between the 5th and 19th innings, no runs were scored.
Finally, in the top of the 20th, Placido Polanco and Rob Brantly hit back-to-back singles with one out. Adeiny Hechavarria followed them up with a sharp single into centerfield, which allowed Polanco to round third and score. Steve Cishek came in to close out the game, and succeeded in earning his sixth save of the year.
The Marlins out-hit the Mets 15 to 13, but the Mets certainly had more opportunities than the Fish did. New York was 0-for-19 with runners in scoring position, and Miami was 2-for-4. Also worth noting: there were as many outfield assists in this game as runs scored.
After the game, Clark Spencer, Marlins beat writer for the Miami Herald, posted this tweet:
FACT: Based on winning % so far: if #marlins played only #mets, would finish with best record in MLB history. Vs. everyone else: worst ever.
— clarkspencer (@clarkspencer) June 9, 2013
Unfortunately, 89% of Miami’s games are not against the Mets. Therefore, after some simple math, the Marlins still have the worst record in Major League Baseball.
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