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The Florida Marlins scored five runs in the bottom of the eighth inning Monday night to beat the New York Mets 7-3 and remind the N.L. East that this is more than a two team race.
John Maine pitched well, but lasted just 4 1/3 innings after being pulled in the fifth with a stiff shoulder.
After the Marlins tied the game at 2, the Mets manufactured the go-ah ead run in the top of the eighth thanks to a smart baserunning play by David Wright. With the shift on for Carlos Delgado, Wright took an unoccupied third base on a fielder’s choice. Then, after the Marlins issued an intentional walk to Carlos Beltran, Wright scored on what appeared to be a double-play ball hit by Fernando Tatis. Tatis raced toward first, but the throw went wide and Wright scored.
Then Joe Smith and Scott Schoenweis combined to blow the game, allowing five runs on six hits. Net result: Florida is one game back; Philadelphia is a 1/2 game back.
Maine lost his no-hitter bid in the first inning when Jorge Cantu hit a ball just shy of Tatis for a single. That makes it 7,426 New York Mets games without a single no-hitter.
