Luis Robert Jr. delivered a tiebreaking two-run single in the eighth inning Thursday night for the host New York Mets, who edged the Miami Marlins 4-2 in the opener of a four-game series.
Marlins reliever Michael Petersen (1-2) retired the first two batters in the eighth before Bo Bichette doubled and went to third on Carson Benge’s single. Benge stole second before Robert singled to left field.
New York’s Francisco Lindor hit an RBI single and later scored on an error by third baseman Graham Pauley in a two-run sixth inning.
Brooks Raley (5-5) tossed 1 2/3 innings of one-hit relief. Devin Williams recorded his 16th save with a hitless ninth as the Mets improved to 7-6 since the All-Star break.
Bichette finished with two hits.
Kyle Stowers and Jakob Marsee homered for the Marlins, who had their three-game winning streak snapped. Liam Hicks had two singles and a walk, and Pauley also singled twice.
The starting pitchers didn’t factor into the decision despite strong outings. New York’s Nolan McLean allowed two runs on six hits and two walks while striking out six over 6 1/3 innings. Miami’s Eury Perez was charged with two runs (one earned) on three hits and two walks while striking out six over six innings.
The Marlins got two runners beyond first base in the first three innings before Stowers homered on McLean’s third pitch in the fourth.
Perez retired the first eight batters he faced before walking Francisco Alvarez on a 3-2 pitch. The right-hander set down the next six batters before Marcus Semien singled cleanly to left with two outs in the fifth.
The Mets took the lead in the sixth. Alvarez walked again leading off the inning, went to second on A.J. Ewing’s groundout and scored on Lindor’s single to right. Lindor moved to third on Bichette’s single and raced home when Pauley misplayed Robert’s two-out grounder to third.
The lead lasted just one out into the seventh before Marsee homered on a 3-0 fastball.
