METS GAME DAY

The fans at Citi Field on Friday night had to wait through a onehour, 53-minute rain delay before first pitch, and all they got was a lousy ballgame.

This week’s Subway Series was as relevant as the Mets were going to be for the remainder of the season, and after getting swept by the Yanks in the four-game set, they went back to playing games that matter only for the purpose of evaluating their young hitters and figuring out which pitchers they can count on beyond this season. They lost to the Marlins, 3-1, Friday night in a remarkably unspectacular contest during which the only noteworthy moment was a J.T. Realmuto two-run home run in the second inning.

Not even Giancarlo Stanton could provide a moment of intrigue. Chris Flexen walked Stanton in his first two plate appearances, and Stanton finished 0-for-2.

Flexen gave up three runs in 5 1/3 innings, allowing five hits and four walks with just one strikeout. He was pulled at 98 pitches after putting two runners on in the sixth. He’s yet to complete six innings through five big-league starts, but he’s held his own over his last three outings.

Miami southpaw Justin Nicolino gave up just one run on six hits in five innings and didn’t issue a walk. The Mets had only one unsuccessful scoring chance after their one run in the fourth.