The Streak is Over: The Marlins face the Mets in Game 2

After plenty of struggles the past seven games, the Miami Marlins beat the New York Mets 8-6 on Friday night. The two teams will face off again today.

And after seven losses in a row, the Miami Marlins exhaled a bit, sending New York Mets pitcher Jacob deGrom to the showers in an 8-6 win to snap a losing streak that had some of us wondering if manager Don Mattingly’s future was in jeopardy.

On Friday night, the Marlins proved they could break out the lumber and challenge one of the best pitchers in baseball. And for one night, talk about how bad this baseball team has been did not seem to matter. The third time facing deGrom, the reigning National League Cy Young Award winner was the charm.

"As Joe Frisaro of MLB.com explained, “Miami snapped a seven-game losing streak, with right-hander Trevor Richards (1-5, 4.44) winning for the first time in nine starts, dating back to Sept. 23, 2018, against the Reds.”"

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Facing deGrom again may have made things a bit easier for the Marlins lineup.

"“It’s always great to see more of a guy,” outfielder Garrett Cooper said. “To have an idea of what he’s trying to do.“What pitches he’s trying to get you out on, and how he is trying to get you out. He left a couple of pitches I could drive.”"

Cooper has a two-run single on the night and appears to have found his swing once again after injuries have decimated last season and the beginning of this one.

"“I’m sure our offensive struggles have been well documented, but just to get some guys going, and get a decent feeling about their night, it’s nice for us,” Mattingly said."

The two teams will once again face each other tonight in Miami. Pablo Lopez will take the bump trying to do something this team needs more than anything – to string together two straight wins. Miami is now 11-31 on the season with a small lifeline to work with.

Lopez was rocked in his last start, which was easily the worst in his Major League career.

The lefty gave up 10 runs in three innings against these same Mets. Lopez had not allowed more than four runs or worked fewer than 4 2/3 inning this year before last Friday’s start.

The Mets counter with Steven Matz. The lefty has a 3-2 record with a 3.86 ERA and 32 strikeouts this season. He has not pitched since May 4, which may help the Marlins this evening. A radial nerve issue has bothered him during his career. He was able to get through a 45-pitch bullpen session earlier this week.