MIAMI (AP) - Emotions were more subdued Tuesday night for the Miami Marlins, and their bats were, too.
Still mourning the death of ace Jose Fernandez, Miami managed only six hits and lost 12-1 to the New York Mets.
The game was the Marlins’ second since Fernandez was killed in a boating accident, and came one night after a heart-tugging victory over New York filled with tributes to their teammate.
But Miami couldn’t muster much against Noah Syndergaard (14-9).
“I’m sure our guys are exhausted,” Marlins manager Don Mattingly said. “But momentum is controlled by their guy. This cat’s got great stuff.”
Syndergaard struck out eight and allowed one run in six innings.
“Last night was a little different for us,” he said. “We just went out there tonight and competed. I feel like that’s what Jose would have wanted us to do, with as much passion and heart as possible.”
The Mets totaled 19 hits, and Jay Bruce and Yoenis Cespedes each hit his 31st homer. New York remained a half-game ahead of the Giants for the first NL wild card and 1 1/2 games in front of the Cardinals.
“We kind of got back to business as usual,” Bruce said. “Hearts are still heavy, and they’re going to be here. But we needed to win this game today, and we were able to do that.”
One more Miami loss or a San Francisco win would eliminate the Marlins from playoff contention. Major League Baseball said it’s possible Sunday’s scheduled game against Atlanta, canceled following Fernandez’s death, could be made up if it still had postseason implications.
For mourners at Marlins Park on Tuesday, there were nudges toward a return to normal. The Kiss Cam and organ music returned after a one-game hiatus, but the dugout dancers were still missing, along with the sea creatures that usually race around the warning track.
Marlins players were back in their regular uniforms after they all wore Fernandez’s No. 16 on Monday. But each jersey sported a patch with “16” on the sleeve, and the number remained stenciled on the back of the mound.
Tom Koehler (9-13) allowed four runs in 3 2/3 innings.
“It was different stretching, getting warm, it just had a different feel to it. It’s hard to explain really,” Koehler said. “I think everybody’s doing the best they can. We’re not trained to handle anything like this.”
Dee Gordon, who hit a Hollywood-worthy homer in the first inning Monday, again got things going in the first. This time he reached on a bunt, stole second and came home on a single by Marcell Ozuna. But that was Miami’s only run.
The crowd was mostly quietly, except for transplanted New Yorkers. Bruce hit a two-run homer into the upper deck in right field in the second inning, and Cespedes hit an even more majestic two-run shot off the home run sculpture in the third.
Lucas Duda hit a three-run double, and Curtis Granderson also drove in three runs for the Mets.
MOURNING MARLINS
Slugger Giancarlo Stanton said it’s important that the team pay proper tribute to Fernandez as they grieve.
“It has nothing to do with baseball,” Stanton said before the game. “If you care about life, if you have passion or loved ones or anybody, you can relate to this situation.”
A memorial service and public viewing for Fernandez are scheduled for Wednesday. Players will attend a Mass on Thursday.
Fernandez’s agent, Scott Boras, watched the game with Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria.
ROOKIE MILESTONE
Yefri Perez came off the bench to single in the eighth for his first major league hit.
Perez’s locker is next to Fernandez’s.
“I thank God for this opportunity,” Perez said in Spanish. “You’ve been working so hard to fulfill that dream of getting your first base hit. But for us these have been difficult days - to lose a great teammate like Jose. The joy he displayed on a ballfield and in this clubhouse, it is not the same without him.”
UP NEXT
Marlins RHP Jose Urena (4-8, 5.95) is scheduled to start the series finale Wednesday against RHP Seth Lugo (4-2, 2.61).
Please read our comment policy before commenting.