Marlins 6 Mets 5
Who says homeruns are overrated?
Whoever says such a thing seems to forget games like this. While only four of the 18 hits during Tuesday’s opener against the visiting Mets fell into the stands, seven of the 11 runs scored Tuesday night were a result of them; and runs wins ballgames.
The biggest homerun came off the bat from a guy who spent the first 2 hours and 45 minutes of the game from the bench, pinched hit, and only saw one pitch.
Josh Willingham's two run homer off Mets closer Billy Wagner was the first walk off homer in 186 Marlin games, the longest drought in the majors. After a Miguel Olivo leadoff single and a Wes Helm sac bunt, the stage was set for the hottest hitting Marlin batter.
After hitting just two homeruns in his previous 101 at-bats, Willingham has homered five times since “Miami Vice” came out (his last 16 at-bats for those unfamiliar to Sonny Crockett). That isn't even counting the homer taken away by Braves centerfielder Jeff Francour in
The Marlins got in a 5-4 hole after Mets leadoff hitter Jose Reyes homered off newly placed reliever Randy Messenger in the seventh. Messenger replaced an aggressive Scott Olsen who was seeking to be the first of his teammates to 10 wins. Olsen pitched six innings, giving up six hits while whiffing 10 Mets. The "home grown"
The Mets tagged Olsen for three runs in the third thanks to a two run shot by Centerfielder Carlos Beltran and a Paul Lo Duca RBI single. Before Olsen's RBI double, Hanley Ramirez made something out of the seventh slot and cranked a two run dinger in the fourth.
Crazy Stat of the Night:
After Beltran hit the scoreboard in the leadoff inning, Marlins shortstop Ramirez anticipated the bounce and fired a shot from 275+ feet to home plate, which kept Jose Reyes from scoring. Beltran was so surprised the shortstop made the play that he lost his footing and was hung out to dry. Beltran would have eventually scored on Delgado’s single.
