MIAMI (AP) - For a last-place team down to its last hitter on the bench, this was a win worth celebrating.
Pinch-hitter Bryan Holaday hit an RBI single in the 11th inning and the Miami Marlins beat the New York Mets 4-3 Saturday night for just their second victory in 11 games.
“This is something that we needed,” Holaday said. “It’s tough when you’re not winning games so a win like this can spark us and makes it a lot better in the locker room. Everybody is able to celebrate a win.”
Miguel Rojas led off the 11th with a single against Jacob Rhame (0-2) and moved up on Magneuris Sierra’s sacrifice. Holaday followed with a groundball past third baseman Todd Frazier that easily scored Rojas.
“That last pitch right there, just a slider that stayed over the middle of the plate and Holaday was able to hook it down the line,” Mets manager Mickey Callaway said.
It was Holaday’s second walkoff hit of the season and of his career, and the eighth walkoff victory for the Marlins.
“It’s great,” Holaday said. “It’s the best feeling in the world.”
Holaday was the last hitter off the bench for the Marlins, who were down to one available reliever.
“That was good,” Marlins manager Don Mattingly said. “We were running out of bullets there.”
The Marlins improved to 7-4 in extra innings with all 11 game at home.
“Hey, let’s go extras tomorrow then,” Mattingly said.
Holaday batted for Javy Guerra (1-0), who pitched the 11th.
Miami loaded the bases in the eighth with one out, but was unable to score. Brandon Nimmo grounded out in the Mets 10th, leaving runners stranded on first and second.
The Mets jumped out to a 3-0 lead with three runs in the fourth on a bases-clearing double by Frazier.
Miami responded in the fourth with a two-run single by Martin Prado. J.T. Realmuto’s single in the fifth made it 3-all.
New York’s Corey Oswalt pitched six innings, allowing six hits and three runs. Marlins starter Dan Straily gave up three runs in 4 2/3 innings.
GEMS IN THE SIXTH
Both teams came up with impressive catches by outfielders in the sixth.
Miami right fielder Brian Anderson made a sliding catch into the wall in foul territory in the top of the inning. Nimmo made a diving grab in right-center to end the inning.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Mets: 3B David Wright (shoulder/back) will begin a rehab assignment with Single-A St. Lucie on Sunday. The 35-year-old Wright is scheduled to play five innings in the field. His last game in the majors was May 27, 2016 - he had brief stint in the minors last August before being shut down.
UP NEXT
Mets: RHP Noah Syndergaard (7-2, 3.17 ERA) will start the series finale on Sunday. He is 4-0 with a 1.62 ERA in six career starts against the Marlins.
Marlins: LHP Wei-Yin Chen (4-8, 5.48) has a 1.94 ERA in nine home starts.
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