The Mets had won seven straight games against the Marlins, but the Marlins and Jorge Alfaro were ready to put a quick end to the Mets season. Miami came into the game with one of the worst offenses in the National League, but managed to muster plenty of offense to steal a 8-4 victory.
This is Jorge Alfaro's 2nd homer tonight.
It's a grand slam.
It's chill.
We're chill.
BE CHILL. pic.twitter.com/NxqXb5qyvf
— Miami Marlins (@Marlins) September 24, 2019
The Mets had a chance to open up the game in the bottom of the first but Todd Frazier but popped up to second base. He also had an opportunity to get the Mets on the board in the third, but also popped up with runners on first and second. This was the theme against Caleb Smith who seemed to have base runners on during every inning he pitched, but the Mets could not capitalize.
Matz Shell Shocked
Steven Matz battled through five innings, with his only blemish being a two run home run from Alfaro. In the sixth, he allowed three ground ball singles to load the bases with nobody out. The inning built up with those three innocent hits, then Alfaro capped it off with his heart breaking grand slam.
Matz after grand slam. pic.twitter.com/7HAhecPBUt
— Steven Marcus (@newsdayalum) September 24, 2019
Matz was visibly frustrated and had the same feeling as other Mets fans. The look signaled it was the end of the road not only for his start, but the official nail in the coffin on the Mets season. They certainly had a chance for a comeback against the Marlins bullpen, but pulling off a six run comeback against any team is quite a feat.
Rosario Slam
The Mets responded very quickly by loading up the bases once again against Smith. All hope seemed lost once Rajai Davis popped up to make the second out of the inning. Amed Rosario launched a grand slam to inch the Mets closer at 6-4. It was his 15th home run and 70th RBI in a season which has been very impressive for the young shortstop.
Amed Rosario becomes the 6th player in Mets history to have at least the following in a season:
18 SB
15 HR
70 RBI
170 HitsFirst to do since Carlos Beltran in 2008.
— Mike Mayer (@mikemayer22) September 24, 2019
The Mets seemed to keep the momentum going to get out of the top of the seventh. Brad Brach induced a ground ball to Pete Alonso and beat Harold Ramirez to the first base bag to end the inning…or at least he thought so. It went to a video review which overturned the call and gifted the Marlins two extra runs. It effectively killed any momentum the Mets had built up from the prior inning.
The Mets now chase five games with six left on their schedule. Any combination of a Brewers win and a Mets loss will officially eliminate the Mets from playoff contention. They got as close as one game from a playoff spot, but could never reach the top of the mountain they were climbing for the last two and a half months.