Game #110: Marlins 4, Mets 3

Justin Turner's error in the ninth inning allowed the Marlins to score two runs, handing the Mets their fourth loss in a row. (NYTimes.com)

Oh, I really don't want to write about this...it's an all-too familiar story.

Justin Turner's throwing error in the 9th inning gave away the game, and the Mets fell in excruciating fashion to the Marlins, 4-3.

The Bad Stuff:

• Everything was going so well...until that blasted 9th inning. Jason Isringhausen, I would guess still tired from last night's grand collapse, ran into trouble again tonight. He walked the leadoff man, got a popup out, allowed a single, hit a guy, then got Bryan Petersen to hit a groundball to Justin Turner. The tying run would have scored, but Turner wasn't able to wait for slow-running John Buck to cross his path, so tried to fire over to first. His throw sailed way wide and allowed the goahead run to cross the plate.
• New York got some momentum back in the 9th when Ronny Paulino led off with a walk, but Daniel Murphy, pinch-hitting after a scheduled day off, hit one right back to Leo Nunez, who turned the rally-killing 1-6-3 double play. Game over, Mets lose again.

The Good Stuff:

• And it's really a shame, because there's so much Good Stuff to talk about tonight:
• Chris Capuano pitched 6 solid innings, allowing just 2 solo home runs by Omar Infante (yes, you read that sentence correctly) and 2 more hits, walking 2 and K-ing 5.
• Many Acosta had another solid outing in the bullpen in the 7th, and Bobby Parnell regained his form to strike out 2 in the 8th, the first on a blistering 101 mph fastball.
• New York scored their second run in the 5th on a David Wright groundout, then again in the 6th on a Lucas Duda sac fly.
• But the highlight of the night without a doubt came in the 3rd inning. Joining Gary, Ron, and Keith in the SNY booth was 11-year-old Jacob Resnick, winner of the SNY Kidcaster contest. Resnick was given the call when Jose Reyes stepped up to bat, and as if by divine providence, Jose crushed a line drive off a hanging curveball into the leftfield stands. Young Jacob delivered his call with such enthusiasm, he couldn't help but bring a smile to your face. And he sounded like a pro up there, even at 11 years old. Perhaps years from now we'll be hearing from Jacob Resnick behind the mic, maybe even calling the Mets on a nightly basis (looks like I've got some competition for that job).

Final Analysis:
I hate losing to the Florida Marlins. They've got hardly any fans, no one goes to their games, but they still have as many World Series as the Mets. And somehow they always find ways to beat us. It ain't fair, I tell ya. It's a 4th straight loss for New York, a 3rd loss in 4 series, and yet another failed chance to gain ground on the Atlanta Braves, who also lost tonight.

I know you want to put this game behind you as quickly as possible, I do too, but let me leave you with one final thought: the loss drops the Mets to 22-28 at home in 2011. A 33-27 record away from Citi Field gives them the most road wins in the NL. If the Mets were anywhere near as good in front of their own fans as they were in front of the other guys', they would be right in the middle of the Wild Card race, instead of just on the cusp and falling fast.

MM