The New York Mets continue to find ways to lose, this time with a throwing error in the ninth inning on a routine play that allowed two runs to score and give the Marlins a 4-3 victory. After winning five in a row, the Mets have now dropped four in a row, including the last two in heartbreaking fashion to Florida.
Omar Infante accounted for the only offense for the Marlins over the first eight inning with his second and third home runs of the season in the first and fifth inning, respectively.
Jose Reyes got the Mets on the board in the third inning with a home run to left field. A David Wright ground out and a Lucas Duda sacrifice fly was the only other scoring New York was able to muster against five Marlins pitchers.
The Mets were 0-6 with runners in scoring position, but still held a 3-2 lead going into the ninth inning. That's when Jason Isringhausen and Justin Turner combined to throw the lead -- and the game -- away.
Isringhausen started off by walking the leadoff hitter, Logan Morrison. After he got the dangerous Mike Stanton out on a pop up to shallow right field, Mike Cameron's single put runners on first and third. The closer then hit John Buck to load the bases, setting the stage for the play of the game.
Pinch hitter Bryan Petersen hit a chopper to Turner in the baseline between first and second. The second baseman froze, then threw wildly to first base, allowing Morrison and Cameron to score and hand Florida the lead.
After the game, Mets manager Terry Collins made it clear Turner should have not only acted quicker, but also should have never thrown to first.
"He's gotta try for a double play there," Colins said. "We've got to go to the plate or go to second."
Asked if Turner could have had a play at the plate, the manager wasn't in a hurry to defend the second baseman.
"Maybe, it wasn't a big high hop, it was a fairly high hop."
The Mets find themselves back at .500, as they continue to show why they were never a threat to make any real run at a playoff spot. New York will try to bounce back Wednesday against the Marlins at 7:10 with Dillon Gee on the mound.