Marlins bounce back and beat the Mets behind key hits

After being thrashed by the New York Mets in the series opener, the next test for the Miami Marlins is how the young group responds the next game. 

With their ace on the mound, the Fighting Fish passed the test on Tuesday with a 4-2 bounce back win over their rivals in a game that lasted two hours and five minutes. 

Sandy Alcantara gave up two runs on three hits with four strikeouts over five innings of work. In his second big league start since returning from Tommy John surgery, Alcantara maintained the Marlins’ lead through the minimum amount of innings for a quality start and let the bullpen do the rest. 

The Marlins established their lead in the first inning after Kyle Stowers hit a two-run home run. It was the rookie outfielder’s first RBI since his walk-off single on Opening Day. 

The Mets struck back in the next couple innings to tie the game. Branden Nimmo hit a solo home run in the second inning and Francisco Lindor drove in the tying run on a single in the third inning. 

The Marlins took back the lead in the fourth inning on a two-run double by Graham Pauley to score the go-ahead runs. 

The Marlins bullpen combined to hold the star studied Mets lineup to only two hits through four innings. Anthony Bender came into close the game in the ninth after Anthony Veneziano left with two runners on and only one out. 

“We’re all fighting,” Bender said. “Our ABs are nasty. We’re going out and doing our thing. It’s been really fun to watch from the pen.”

The Marlins improved to 4-2 to start the season, which compared to their expectations is a stark contrast to last year’s squad, which went 0-9 to start the season. 

“Series wins matters,” Stowers said.” You got to stack those up throughout the year.”