NEW YORK — Bryan De La Cruz homered and drove in four runs, and the Miami Marlins stole five bases in a 7-2 win Sunday over a struggling Carlos Carrasco and the New York Mets.
De La Cruz hit a three-run homer on an 0-2 pitch from Carrasco in the first inning and added a sacrifice fly in the seventh. Garrett Cooper had a two-run shot for the Marlins, who avoided a three-game sweep.
Miami entered with just two stolen bases this season but went 5 for 5 against Mets rookie catcher Francisco Álvarez in his second major league start behind the plate.
Jazz Chisholm Jr. had two hits, two runs, two steals and an RBI before being ejected in the seventh for arguing with plate umpire Jeff Nelson.
Álvarez, the Mets’ top prospect, went 1 for 4 with an RBI single in his season debut. Pete Alonso also had an RBI single for New York, which stranded 10 runners.
Tanner Scott (1-1), the second of five Marlins pitchers, earned the win by working 1 1/3 hitless innings.
Miami starter Braxton Garrett allowed nine hits but just two runs in 4 2/3 innings.
Carrasco gave up six runs in 4 2/3 innings and has an 11.42 ERA through two starts. He ended last season by giving up nine runs over 11 innings in his final three starts.
SEE YOU LATER
Chisholm was tossed for arguing a called third strike leading off the seventh. He and Nelson also exchanged words following a pair of called strikes during Chisholm’s at-bat in the third.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Marlins: RF Avisaíl García (sore left hamstring) exited after flying out in the fourth. He was replaced by Jesús Sánchez. … RHP JT Chargois left after getting one out in the seventh. He appeared to be holding his right side as he walked off the field.
Mets: RF Starling Marte exited with a strained neck in the second, one inning after he was injured stealing third base. Marte was shaken up after sliding headfirst into Jean Segura’s knee.
UP NEXT
Marlins: RHP Sandy Alcantara (1-0, 1.84 ERA) opens a three-game series Monday night in Philadelphia. The reigning NL Cy Young Award winner authored the first complete game in the majors this season, a three-hitter last Tuesday in a 1-0 win over Minnesota.
Mets: RHP Max Scherzer (1-1, 6.35 ERA) starts the opener of a three-game series against San Diego, the first meeting between the teams since the Padres eliminated the Mets from the playoffs in the wild-card round at Citi Field last year. Scherzer will pitch at home for the first time since Game 1 of that series, when he gave up seven runs in 4 2/3 innings of a loss to San Diego.
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