NEW YORK — Bryan De La Cruz hit a three-run home run, Garrett Cooper added a two-run homer of his own and the Miami Marlins avoided a series sweep against the New York Mets with a 7-2 win on Sunday at Citi Field to wrap up a three-game series.
Miami improves to 4-6. The Mets fall to 5-5.
De La Cruz also walked twice and added a sacrifice fly in the seventh inning to finish with four RBI, which tied his single-game career-high. His home run came on a low-and-in slider from Carlos Carrasco that he sent 388 feet to left-center field.
Cooper’s home run, which went 404 feet to left field, was his third of the season and was part of a three-run fifth inning. Cooper also hit a double in the seventh inning and scored on De La Cruz’s sacrifice fly. He leads the team with seven RBI, is tied with Jorge Soler in home runs and is one of five Marlins players with four runs scored.
It was more than enough run support for Miami’s pitching staff. Braxton Garrett held the Mets to two runs over 4 2/3 innings while striking out seven. The bullpen threw 4 1/3 scoreless innings to seal the win.
Miami dropped the first two games of the series 9-3 on Friday and 5-2 on Saturday.
Jazz Chisholm Jr. ejected
Marlins center fielder Jazz Chisholm Jr. was ejected in the seventh inning after arguing a called third strike to lead off the seventh inning.
The call in question was on a pitch that barely clipped the lower outside corner while Chisholm had a full count.
Chisholm had made his opinion known on two other called strikes that came in three-ball counts during his second at-bat of the game in the third inning. All three of the pitches were in the same area.
Garrett Hampson replaced Chisholm in center field for the final three innings of the game.
Avisail Garcia, JT Chargois injured
Outfielder Avisail Garcia and relief pitcher JT Chargois both left Sunday’s game with injuries.
Garcia was removed in the fourth inning with left hamstring soreness. Chargois left after facing one batter and throwing three pitches in the seventh inning. The exact nature of his injury was not immediately disclosed.
Jesus Sanchez replaced Garcia in right field. Garcia twice last season went on the injured list for hamstring strains. He missed a combined 46 games due to the injuries. Garcia went 0 for 2 in his two at-bats Sunday, grounding out to third base in the first inning and flying out to right-center in the fourth. He is hitting just .103 (3 for 29) with a home run through nine games played.
Chargois, who the Marlins acquired in a trade with the Tampa Bay Rays this offseason, has retired all 13 batters he has faced so far this season. That included Luis Guillorme, who he got to ground out to Jean Segura at third base for the only out he recorded in the seventh before heading to the dugout with head athletic trainer Lee Meyer.
Roster move
Prior to the game, the Marlins selected the contract of left-handed pitcher Devin Smeltzer. They optioned left-handed pitcher Daniel Castano to Triple A Jacksonville to make room for Smeltzer on the active roster and designated for assignment right-handed pitcher Eli Villalobos to make room on the 40-man roster.
Up next
The Marlins travel to Philadelphia for a three-game set with the Phillies to wrap up their first road trip of the season.
The scheduled starting pitchers for the series are as follows: Sandy Alcantara (1-0, 1.84 ERA) against Matt Strahm (0-0, 0.00) on Monday, Jesus Luzardo (1-0, 0.71) against Aaron Nola (0-1, 7.45) on Tuesday and Edward Cabrera (0-1, 5.40) against Zack Wheeler (0-1, 5.59) on Wednesday.
