New York Mets at Miami Marlins

Alcantara pitches into 8th inning, Norby homers in Marlins' 6-2 win over Mets

The Mets dropped out of the third NL wild-card position when Cincinnati beat Milwaukee later Friday. The Reds pulled into a tie with the Mets in the standings, but hold the head-to-head tiebreaker.

Xavier Edwards had three hits and Otto López doubled and singled for the Marlins.

Alcantara (11-12) settled down after allowing Francisco Lindor’s game-starting homer and Pete Alonso’s RBI double in the first. The 2022 NL Cy Young Award winner allowed six hits through the first three innings then retired 10 straight before Lindor walked to lead off the eighth that ended his outing.

The Marlins chased Mets starter Brandon Sproat (0-2) during a six-run fifth that erased a 2-0 deficit. Heriberto Hernández hit a two-run triple and scored on Jakob Marsee’s RBI groundout. Xavier Edwards hit an RBI single and Norby’s two-run, pinch-hit homer off reliever Gregory Soto capped the outburst.

Cade Gibson relieved Alcantara and got the first two outs in the eighth. Tyler Phillips closed with the four-out save after the Mets loaded the bases in the eighth.

Lindor’s first inning homer was his 11th leadoff blast of the season and 31st of his career.

Sproat gave up four runs and five hits over 4 2/3 innings. It was Sproat’s fourth career start since being called up from Triple-A on Sept. 7.

Mets third baseman Brett Baty exited the game in the second inning because side soreness.

Key moment Phillips inherited the bases loaded when Soto reached on a fielder’s choice and Nimmo reached on a throwing error by second baseman Edwards, and Jeff McNeil worked a two-out walk. Pinch hitter Mark Vientos popped out to short left field to end New York’s threat.

Key stat Norby’s drive was the ninth pinch-hit homer by the Marlins this season.

Up next RHP Clay Holmes (11-8, 3.66 ERA) will start for the Mets on Saturday while the Marlins will go with RHP Eury Pérez (7-5, 4.20).

How can I watch New York Mets vs. Miami Marlins?

• TV Channel: Mets at Marlins 2022 MLB Baseball, is broadcasted on MLB.TV.
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