Sep 26, 2009 10:42 am US/Eastern
Marlins Continue To Lose Ground In Playoff Race
MIAMI (CBS4) ―
The Marlins continue to let their very slim hopes of getting to the playoffs slip away. Friday night, the Fish lost to the lowly New York Mets 6-5. Cory Sullivan of the Mets delivered a go-ahead, two-run single in the ninth inning to push the Mets to victory. Florida fell five games behind the NL wild card-leading Rockies, who beat St. Louis 2-1 at Coors Field.
"The hill gets a little steeper but we have a team that is resilient," manager Fredi Gonzalez said. "We are in a situation that we have to win every game and get help."
Closer Leo Nunez (4-6) yielded singles to Daniel Murphy and Jeff Francoeur before pinch-hitter Jeremy Reed walked to load the bases with no outs. Sullivan then drilled Nunez's 0-1 pitch into left field, scoring Murphy and Francoeur.
"I was fortunate to get a pitch all over the plate," Sullivan said. "I was trying to get at least a sac fly and drive in the run to tie the game. I was fortunate to find some grass in the outfield."
Nunez, who has seven blown saves in 31 opportunities, didn't allow another run but the damage was done.
"I left my changeup a bit high today," Nunez said. "It was a bad night. Unfortunately, these things happen. I just have to forget about this. Tomorrow will be a new day."
Bobby Parnell (4-8) pitched a perfect eighth for the win and Francisco Rodriguez worked around pinch-hitter Ross Gload's one-out single for his 34th save in 40 opportunities.
Jorge Cantu hit a two-out, two-run double in the seventh to give Florida a 5-3 lead. With first base open, Sean Green intentionally walked Hanley Ramirez to face Cantu. New York pulled within one in the eighth when Brian Schneider scored on a passed ball.
David Wright struck out swinging against Brendan Donnelly but the pitch got away from Ronny Paulino, allowing Schneider to come home.
Wright, who never ran to first on the miss, argued with plate umpire Bill Hohn that it was a foul ball. Jeff Francoeur hit a three-run homer off Ricky Nolasco to give New York a 3-0 lead in the second but Ramirez tied it with a three-run drive of his own off Tim Redding in the fifth. It was Ramirez's 24th of the season and No. 13 for Francoeur.
Redding allowed four runs and six hits in six-plus innings. Nolasco pitched seven innings, yielding three runs and four hits.
(© 2009 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
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