Marlins get to deGrom as Amazin’s lose fourth straight

Jacob deGrom got knocked around in a sense Monday, but it was difficult to pin all of the Mets’ latest letdown on the team ace.

Pete Alonso’s error, which led to three unearned runs, and a continued lack of crispness from the lineup were also contributing factors in a 5-3 loss to the Marlins that extended the Mets’ losing streak to four games.

Still, deGrom must shoulder some of the blame for a sixth inning in which he surrendered four runs, allowing the Marlins to take charge of the game. Overall, the right-hander allowed four hits in the frame, even as his ERA dropped to 1.76 for the season.

“Today if I pick us up there in that sixth inning and those tough ones we let get away at Yankee Stadium, we have got a chance,” deGrom said, referring to three straight losses in the Subway Series over the weekend. “If we can get this thing rolling and put some wins together we will be right where we need to be.”

The Mets arrive to September with a 15-20 record, but are only

2 ½ games removed from second place in the NL East. That fact is noteworthy given that second-place teams will qualify for the postseason in baseball’s expanded format. Overall, eight teams from each league will play in the postseason.

And yet the Mets realize they must reverse this losing streak.

“Especially in a short season like this, you can almost feel time is running out,” manager Luis Rojas said.

Robinson Cano’s scorching bat got the Mets close in the sixth, with a solo homer that cut Miami’s lead to 4-3. It was the sixth homer of the season for Cano, who also went deep a day earlier against the Yankees. But the Marlins recovered that run on Brian Anderson’s homer leading off the eighth against Brad Brach.

Garrett Cooper’s homer in the sixth sliced the Mets’ lead to 2-1 before the roof caved on deGrom, with an assist from Alonso’s error. Alonso misplayed Matt Joyce’s grounder, opening the gate for the Marlins to score three unearned runs. Lewin Diaz stroked an RBI double to tie the game before Miguel Rojas produced a run-scoring single. Jorge Alfaro’s double brought in the inning’s final run.

“I left the ball over the middle of the plate and didn’t execute pitches when I needed to,” deGrom said.

Jeff McNeil’s RBI double in the third and Dominic Smith’s sacrifice fly gave deGrom a two-run lead with which to work. The rally started with Amed Rosario drawing a walk for the first time since Sept. 14 of last season, which had stretched 101 plate appearances. As Rosario jogged to first base, the Mets dugout cheered in appreciation of the streak’s conclusion.