Sandy Alcantara and three relievers combined on a five-hitter Sunday for the visiting Miami Marlins, who stayed hot by edging the New York Mets 2-0.
Joe Mack had two hits, including a homer in the fifth inning, for the Marlins, who wrapped up the four-game set with three straight wins as they improved to 6-1 since Monday. Xavier Edwards added an insurance run with a single in the ninth.
Robert Stock took a hard-luck loss for the cellar-dwelling Mets, whose trade deadline teardown continued during the game when starting pitcher Freddy Peralta was dealt to the Tampa Bay Rays.
Alcantara (12-6) gave up four hits and walked two while striking out five over six innings. He is 7-2 with a 2.66 ERA in his last 11 starts dating back to June 7.
Michael Petersen relieved Alcantara with two on in the seventh and walked Marcus Semien before retiring the next three batters. Tyler Zuber threw a one-hit eighth and Pete Fairbanks walked two but allowed no hits while securing his 17th save.
Stock (0-1), starting in the majors for the first time since he pitched for the Mets on July 20, 2021, gave up one run on three hits and no walks while striking out four over five innings.
Five players had one hit apiece for the Mets, who were 0-for-12 with runners in scoring position.
Both pitchers retired the first six batters they faced before navigating traffic in the third. Stock wriggled out of a first-and-second jam by striking out Kyle Stowers, after which Alcantara got Francisco Lindor to ground out and strand runners at the corners.
Stock didn’t give up another hit until Mack homered just beyond the centerfield fence with one out in the fifth.
The Mets built their lone sustained threat in the seventh, when Luis Robert Jr. hit a leadoff single and Jared Young chased Alcantara by doubling on a well-executed hit-and-run. After Semien’s walk, Petersen whiffed New York’s no. 8 and no. 9 hitters, Jorge Polanco and Francisco Alvarez, before inducing A.J. Ewing to ground out.
Otto Lopez singled with one out in the ninth, stole second and scored on Edwards’ hit to center.
