Stanton, Ichiro power Marlins as Colon's streak ends
MIAMI -- Giancarlo Stanton homered and drove in three runs, Dee Gordon hit a tiebreaking sacrifice fly in the seventh, and the Marlins dropped Bartolo Colon to his first loss of the season Wednesday night, winning a 7-3 game to take two of three from the Mets.
Stanton homered off Colon in the first inning, then -- with first base open in a one-run game -- beat a defensive shift to single home Miami's third run in the fifth. He was the only Marlins player to drive in a run against Colon until the seventh, when Gordon launched his sac fly to center to plate Adeiny Hechavarria. Ichiro Suzuki later added a three-run shot off Alex Torres to put the game out of reach in the eighth.
"It was a great win [Tuesday] night, and we finished it off tonight with a solid game and big hits from different guys," Marlins manager Mike Redmond said. "It was truly fun to watch."
It was more than enough to send Colon (4-1) to his first loss in his fifth start. The 41-year-old was bidding to join Roger Clemens as the only quadragenarian pitchers in the last 80 years to win each of their first five starts to a season.
"There's no concern," said outfielder Michael Cuddyer, who drove in two of the Mets' three runs. "We played well here. We just got beat."
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Ageless wonder: At 41 years and 189 days, Suzuki was the only player on the field who could come close to matching Colon (41 years, 340 days) in age. He proved in the eighth inning that he also still has something to offer, launching a three-run homer off Torres to extend Miami's one-run lead to four. More >
Video: NYM@MIA: Ichiro crushes first homer with the Marlins
"That was a tremendous at-bat by Ichiro," Redmond said. "As he got farther and farther along in that at-bat, he just kept fighting pitches off. What an exciting at-bat, and a huge hit for us to give us a little bit of breathing room."
Get 'em on, get 'em over, get 'em in: The Marlins took advantage of Hechavarria's leadoff double in the seventh inning, which bounced just inside the third-base bag, to grab their first lead of the game. The next batter, pinch-hitter Reid Brignac, bunted Hechavarria over to third, allowing Gordon to send him home with a sacrifice fly.
Video: NYM@MIA: Gordon gives Marlins lead with sac fly
Cuddyer, Stanton trade homers: Cuddyer opened the scoring for the Mets with a two-run homer off Marlins starter Mat Latos in the first inning, but the lead was short-lived. In the bottom of the first, Stanton launched a deep two-run shot to left field, tying things at 2.
"It's satisfying because two at-bats later, I thought I had another one," said Cuddyer, who flew out to the warning track in the fifth. "It's a big ballpark, there's no question about it. All you can do is hit the ball hard and see where it lands."
Flashing leather: Stanton made a running, leaping catch against the wall in right field to take away an extra-base hit from Curtis Granderson in the top of the fifth, and Marcell Ozuna ran down a long drive to left-center by Cuddyer in the same inning that kept the Marlins within a run of the Mets. Miami then tied the game at 3 in the bottom of the fifth.
Video: NYM@MIA: Stanton runs down liner crashing into wall
SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS
Suzuki's home run was the 113th of his career, but just his third at a National League park. His others came at Dodger Stadium (July 6, 2001) and Busch Stadium (June 14, 2010).
Video: NYM@MIA: Redmond on Ichiro's home run in win
INJURY UPDATES
• Latos exited in the bottom of the fifth inning with a left hamstring strain and is listed day to day. Latos, who was seeking his first win this season, appeared to sustain the injury when running to first after hitting a single. Donovan Solano pinch-ran for Latos and scored on a single by Stanton to tie the game at 3. More >
• Henderson Alvarez, who is on the 15-day DL with right shoulder inflammation and elbow tightness, threw his first bullpen session Wednesday since going on the DL on April 13. "We'll see how he feels [Thursday] and move forward," said Redmond, refusing to speculate on if and when Alvarez would make a rehab start. "He's been long-tossing so he's been ready for this."
REPLAY REVIEW
The Mets temporarily found new life in the eighth inning, after umpires ruled Cuddyer out at first base on a grounder to the right side. Replays showed that Cuddyer actually beat pitcher Mike Dunn to the bag, prompting the crew to overturn its call. But the next batter, Daniel Murphy, grounded out two pitches later to end the inning.
Video: NYM@MIA: Safe call overturned after challenge in 8th
WHAT'S NEXT
Mets: After only three nights on the road, the Mets will be back in New York on Thursday for the start of a four-game series against the Nationals. Jacob deGrom, who allowed a season-high six earned runs over a season-low five innings his last time out, will oppose Stephen Strasburg in the 7:10 p.m. ET game.
Marlins: After an off-day Thursday, Miami begins a three-game series Friday against the Phillies at Marlins Park. Tom Koehler is scheduled to start for the Marlins against the Phillies' Jerome Williams for the 7:10 p.m. ET start.
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