Mets fall into last place in division
New York finishes June with record of 5-21 to fall behind improving Miami
The Marlins overtook the Mets on the scoreboard and in the standings Saturday.
And for the second game in a row, Miami beat New York with a rookie pitcher making his first major league start.
Brian Anderson hit a two-run homer off Jacob degrom and the Marlins climbed out of last place in the NL East by rallying past the reeling Mets, 5-2.
“We’re not in last place? Awesome,” said J.T. Riddle, whose scratch RBI single put Miami ahead to stay.
The Mets (32-48) lost for the 10th time in 11 games and fell into last place for the first time this year. They finished 5-21 this month for the worst June in franchise history, and they’ve plummeted from 10 games over .500 to 15 under at an earlier date than any team in major league history, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
“It was not the goal when we came in,” degrom said. “This is the complete opposite. Nobody’s happy with that.”
Meanwhile, the rebuilding Marlins (34-50) went 14-14 in June, their best month this season.
They seem to get better as they get younger. Pablo Lopez (1-0) allowed two runs in six innings in his major league debut less than 24 hours after Sandy Alcantara won his first big league start Friday. Both are 22.
The last time two pitchers on the same National League team earned wins in their first career starts in consecutive days was in 1967 when Gary Nolan and Mel Queen did so for the Reds, according to Stats LLC.
Degrom took a 2-0 lead into the sixth, but Anderson’s fifth homer tied it. Riddle beat out a dribbler to the first baseman for a two-out RBI hit that put Miami ahead.
“I thought that swinging bunt was foul,” degrom said. “I should have gone over there and got it.”
Another fielding lapse cost the Mets in the seventh. J.T. Realmuto hit a two-run double after an error by shortstop Amed Rosario prolonged the inning.
Drew Steckenrider pitched a perfect eighth, and Kyle Barraclough earned his eighth save with a 1-2-3 ninth. Steckenrider has thrown 152/3 consecutive scoreless innings, and Barraclough has thrown 202/3 — two more reasons the Marlins are on the rise.
“We’re gaining some type of identity as to what kind of games we need to play to win,” manager Don Mattingly said. “We’re not going to outslug anybody. We’re going to have to pitch and play defense and scratch for runs.”
The Mets’ runs came on solo homers against Lopez. Jose Bautista hit his fifth of the year, his third with the Mets. Todd Frazier added his ninth.
Degrom (5-4), who departed after six innings trailing 3-2, fell to 1-4 in his past five starts despite allowing only 15 runs.
His ERA, lowest in the majors coming into the game, rose to 1.84.
“I am definitely frustrated,” he said. “I’m tired of losing.”