South Florida Sun-Sentinel (Sunday)
Cooper’s late HR key as Miami survives rally attempt
Garrett Cooper hit a two-run homer off the right-field foul pole and Bryan De La Cruz doubled three times as the Miami Marlins beat the New York Mets 5-2 Friday night for their seventh win in nine games.
Pablo López (6-4) allowed one run and four hits in five innings for the Marlins, who had lost two straight after a six-game winning streak.
“Very good lineup, very deep,” López said of the Mets. “There’s not a lot of situations where you can take a pitch off.”
Dylan Floro, Anthony Bass and Tanner Scott each pitched a scoreless inning. Scott got his 11th save in 13 chances, finishing a five-hitter.
Chris Bassitt (6-6), activated from the COVID-19 injured list, started for the first time since winning at Miami on June 25. He gave up two runs and six hits in 6 ⅓ innings.
Jesús Aguilar led off the second with an infield hit, advanced when Avisail Garcia singled and scored as De La Cruz doubled over left fielder Mark Canha.
Brandon Nimmo’s eighth homer, his third in five games, tied the score in the third.
De La Cruz, who matched his career high with three hits, doubled leading off the fifth and scored on Joey Wendle’s sacrifice fly, then doubled with one out in the seventh but was stranded.
“It’s coming around,” De La Cruz said. “I’ve been working really hard the last few days and really quickly I can see some of the results.”
De La Cruz is the first Miami player to hit three doubles in a game since Miguel Rojas on Sept. 17,
2019.
“That’s probably as good as he’s swung it, kind of power all over, too,” Marlins manager Don Mattingly said. “He’s been heating up.”
Cooper homered in the eighth for a 4-1 lead as Drew Smith allowed a home run for his third straight outing.
“As a reliever, you’ll go through these patches,” Smith said.
Francisco Lindor hit his
14th homer in the bottom half, a drive off Steven Okert. New York loaded the bases before Okert retired Eduardo Escobar on an inning-ending popout.
Jacob Stallings drove in a run with a squeeze bunt in the ninth against Joely Rodríguez.
“Being able to add on there obviously makes us feel better,” Mattingly said. “Takes a little pressure off of our bullpen.”