Miami Marlins edge past New York Mets 6-5 as Heath Bell returns to closing - MLB Update
Miami Marlins bring second baseman Omar Infante up the order and the strategy works as they beat the New York Met 6-5 in first game of three-match series at Marlins Park, Miami, FL on May 11, 2012.
Emilio Bonifacio was sent to the seventh spot after the Miami Marlins failed to draw hits in the season during initial few innings of their matches.
Relief pitcher Heath Bell returns and performs closing job after being removed from the role earlier. This time he was successful in blocking hits. He came in ninth and the Marlins had one run lead. He was to make sure that, it will not grow anymore.
As he threw scoreless ninth inning and disallowed the Mets from taking their lead to an invincible level, he eased up the task for hitters. On the back of his impeccable throws, the Marlins added two runs in bottom of ninth and won the game.
While Bonifacio has been ineffective as a hitter so far, he was completely changed in his new spot in the line-up. Under-pressure, he came and singled to right and helped the Marlins tie the score. Afterwards, he completed the winning run on the back of
a hit by Greg Dobbs.
Game saw another opportunity for the Mets to pull off a win out of nowhere. Although it did not happen, the Mets came very close to it late in the innings. Adding three runs in the eighth meant that if it was not for the quality pitches by Bell in the ninth,
they will have turned things around.
Johan Santana while starting for the Mets pitched six innings. He struck-out seven and gave up three runs. After being roughed up at the start, he stabilised and went smooth through rest of his innings.
Three runs the Marlins drew from him in the first inning set the tone for their victory.
Relief pitcher Frank Francisco had a rare poor game. In little less than one inning, he allowed three hits and conceded two runs.
First baseman, Ike Davis follows with another homer after hitting the one in last game. It seems he has restored his composure now.
Unable to get many hits in most part of his show-ups on the plate, Davis was growing impatient with himself and was h**l-bent to turn his fate around. He will be happy now with the way he has taken a kind of re-birth in last two games.
As this was the first game, the Marlins will look to wrap up series by winning second one.
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