Everybody got their money's worth in the series opener between New York and Miami, even if it ended up with the home team losing. The Mets were able to hold on to a thrilling 9-8 affair that lasted 16 innings and over five and a half hours. Relief pitcher picked up the win, his second of the season, after hurling in the final two innings. Adam Conley gave up the winning run and is now 1-1 with the Marlins this season. New York improves to 7-3 on the season while Miami slips down under .500 at 4-5.
Mets vs. Marlins series capsule
- Game 1: New York 9-8 (16 innings)
- Game 2: Friday, 7:10 PM ET
- Game 3: Saturday, 7:10 PM ET
- Game 4: Sunday, 1:10 PM ET
Crooked numbers by Mets, Marlins early
It certainly didn't seem like it would be a game that would last for nearly six hours at the start.
Miami put up a crooked number early in the first inning. After they had loaded up the bases with two walks and a single, Marcell Ozuna smashed a grand slam with two outs on the board. That excitement was squashed fairly early by an answer from the Mets in the second inning. The batting order started off with three consecutive hits, prompting a coaching visit with Marlins starter Wei-Yin Chen.
He was able to record a strikeout, but Travis d'Arnaud was able to land a triple that cleared the bases. That cut the lead to just 4-3. After Robert Gsellman grounded out, Curtis Granderson would bring d'Arnaud in with a single to center field to tie up the game at 4-4. Chen's miserable night wouldn't end there.
To start things off in the third inning, Yoenis Cespedes and Wilmer Flores hit back-to-back solo jacks to increase the Mets' lead to 6-4. After another talk, Chen would retire the side and his night would mercifully come to an end.
d'Arnaud delivers storybook ending for Mets
At the top of the fifth, Cespedes slammed another home run to make it 7-4 for New York.
His two homers put his season total up to six. However, that excitement would come to an end in the bottom of the fifth for the Mets. Miami was able to take the lead with Christian Yelich taking a walk to force Jose Urena in. Giancarlo Stanton recorded a sacrifice fly, then Justin Bour and Derek Dietrich produced single RBIs to give the team an 8-7 lead.
New York finally responded in the top of the eighth. Michael Conforto came in to pinch hit after d'Arnaud was able to get on with two outs in the frame. Comforto delivered with a double and d'Arnaud beat the throw to tie it up at 8-all. That triggered long play of extra innings that lasted into the 16th inning. d'Arnaud finally ended the marathon. He started things off with a triple for the Mets, and it was only convenient that he was the final score with a leadoff home run in the frame. The Marlins had a leadoff walk in the bottom of the 16th, but they couldn't bring Yelich in to tie it up with three consecutive outs.
