Mets game suspended after blowing save to Marlins, 3-hour rain delay

When it rains, it pours for the Mets.

Thursday’s game against the Miami Marlins was suspended after a three-hour, 17-minute rain delay, which began moments after the Mets blew a ninth-inning save to fall behind 2-1 at Citi Field.

The Mets are eliminated from postseason contention, but the Marlins hold a half-game lead for the third and final NL Wild Card spot over the Chicago Cubs, who lost Thursday to the Atlanta Braves.

This weekend will determine whether the Mets-Marlins’ series finale does indeed need to be completed.

Miami is scheduled to begin a three-game series in Pittsburgh on Friday. The Cubs are set to play three games in Milwaukee this weekend.

The Marlins possess the tiebreaker over the Cubs after winning their season series.

Thursday’s game likely would’ve ended without a rain delay had the Mets converted the ninth-inning save. But leading 1-0, manager Buck Showalter turned to reliever Anthony Kay with one on and one out, replacing Grant Hartwig, who had pitched 1.1 scoreless innings to that point.

Kay, a Long Island native, then surrendered back-to-back RBI doubles to Jazz Chisholm Jr. and Yuli Gurriel, the first two batters he faced.

The downpour intensified shortly afterward.

The Mets and Marlins split a doubleheader Wednesday after rain left the field unplayable Tuesday.

Thursday’s bullpen implosion followed a stellar start by the Mets’ David Peterson, who hurled seven shutout innings and struck out eight. Peterson, who entered with a 5.37 ERA, traded zeroes throughout the night with another lefty, Miami’s Jesus Luzardo, who struck out 10 over 7.1 innings.

The Mets wasted the eighth-inning heroics of Rafeal Ortega, whose RBI single against reliever Andrew Nardi broke a scoreless tie. Ortega had entered the game in the fifth inning for Brandon Nimmo, who dove awkwardly in center field.

The surprising Marlins, who won fewer than 70 games in both of the past two years, are seeking their first playoff berth since 2020, when they went 31-29 during the COVID-shortened season. Their last time making the playoffs after a full regular season was 2003, when they won the World Series over the Yankees.

The Mets are scheduled this weekend to host a three-game series against the Philadelphia Phillies, who have clinched the top NL Wild Card