National League Game Summary - New York at Florida
Miami, FL (Sports Network) - Cory Sullivan's pinch-hit, two-run single in the ninth helped the New York Mets take a 6-5 win over the Florida Marlins in the opener of a three-game set.
Jeff Francoeur hit a three-run home run while Daniel Murphy scored twice for the Mets, who snapped a three-game slide. Tim Redding started on the mound and over six-plus innings he was charged with four runs on six hits with four walks and three strikeouts. Bobby Parnell (4-8) got the win for throwing a scoreless eighth inning.
Hanley Ramirez hit a three-run homer while Jorge Cantu drove in the other two runs for the Marlins, who had won their previous two games. Ricky Nolasco went seven innings in the start and was charged with three runs on four hits with a walk and seven strikeouts. Leo Nunez (4-6) was handed the loss.
The defeat puts a big dent in Florida's playoff hopes as the team now sits 4 1/2 games back of Colorado for the NL Wild Card lead.
Trailing by two runs in the eighth, the Mets got a run back. Brian Schneider led off by reaching base on a grounder that Dan Uggla misplayed. Angel Pagan then laid down a bunt single and a sacrifice bunt from Luis Castillo moved each runner up a base. David Wright then stuck out, but on strike three the ball got away from Ronny Paulino and Schneider crossed the plate to make it a 5-4 game.
In the ninth, the Mets took the lead. With Nunez on the mound, back-to-back singles from Daniel Murphy and Jeff Francoeur was followed by a walk to pinch- hitter Jeremy Reed to load the bases. Sullivan then delivered a pinch-hit single to plate two runners for a 6-5 lead.
Francisco Rodriguez worked around a one-out single in the ninth to pick up his 34th save of the season.
The Mets got to Nolasco in the second inning. Carlos Beltran led off the inning with a single and Murphy followed with a double. Francoeur then crushed the first pitch he saw over the left field wall for a 3-0 lead.
Florida had baserunners in each of the first four innings, but it wasn't until the fifth that the team got on the board.
Cameron Maybin led off with a single and, after the next two batters recorded outs, Nick Johnson walked. Ramirez tied the game as he ripped a pitch into the left field stands for his 24th home run of the season.
Florida surged ahead in the seventh. Pinch-hitter Gaby Sanchez led off with a walk and that was it for Redding as Pedro Feliciano took over on the mound.
Feliciano got Chris Coghlan to pop out and Johnson to strike out, but Ramirez was then issued an intentional walk and Sean Green took the hill. Cantu ripped a pitch into the right field corner to bring home both runners to give the Marlins a 5-3 lead.
