MIAMI – Josh Bell hit a tying homer off Edwin Díaz in a four-run ninth inning, the latest costly meltdown by the struggling New York Mets closer, and Otto Lopez singled home the winning run in the 10th as the Miami Marlins rallied for a 10-9 victory Saturday.
Lopez sent a one-out grounder up the middle off Jorge López (1-1) through a drawn-in infield to score automatic runner Christian Bethancourt from third base, and the last-place Marlins (15-32) stretched their winning streak to a season-best four games. It was Miami’s fourth walk-off win of the year.
“It was nuts,” Bell said. “The fifth, sixth inning rolls around, you’re hearing the ‘Let’s go Mets’ chants. I know their fans travel well, but it was nice to hear our fans cheer.”
Miami was down, 9-5, in the ninth before Jazz Chisholm Jr. singled to drive in Vidal Bruján, who led off with a double against Díaz. Bryan De La Cruz reached on an infield single with one out, and Bell hammered Díaz’s first-pitch slider 428 feet to straightaway center field for a three-run shot that tied it.
“Definitely up there (in my career),” Bell said. “I think just the situation in the game, and then that’s a future Hall of Famer out there – best closer in the game. So happy to help our team win there, but first and foremost, I don’t think I’ve gotten a hit against (Díaz) in the big leagues.”
Díaz wasn’t charged with a blown save because he entered with a four-run lead. But he’s blown two consecutive save chances and three of his last four. In his past three outings, he’s allowed seven earned runs, seven hits, three walks and two homers over 21/3 innings. The star closer with a $102 million contract has a 10.80 ERA over his last eight appearances after serving up four homers in 81/3 innings.
“I won’t lie, my confidence I feel is down right now,” Díaz said. “I’m making pitches. I’m throwing strikes. I’m trying to do my best to help the team to win. Right now I’m not.”
It was Díaz’s first outing at Miami’s home ballpark since he went down with a season-ending knee injury there in March 2023 while celebrating Puerto Rico’s victory over the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic.
New York (20-25) lost for the seventh time in nine games – all against division opponents – and equaled a season worst of five games below .500 set with its 0-5 start.
Tanner Scott (3-4) picked up the win by pitching a scoreless 10th.
Miami had shut out its previous three opponents – including an 8-0 win over the Mets on Friday night – before J.D. Martinez ripped an RBI single off starter Braxton Garrett that scored Francisco Lindor in the first.
Garrett pitched 4 1/3 innings, giving up seven hits and six runs with five strikeouts and a walk.
Chisholm had three hits and three RBIs, including a solo homer off Mets starter Luis Severino in the third. Bell finished with three hits and four RBIs.
Severino gave up six hits and five runs in 6 2/3 innings. The right-hander let the Marlins back in it in the seventh when he allowed a walk, a run-scoring double and a two-out RBI single that made it 7-4. Reed Garrett replaced Severino and gave up an RBI single to Bell before retiring Jesús Sánchez on a flyout to end the inning.
