Marlins’ Eovaldi loses his 6th straight decision

HOWIE RUMBERG
AP Sports Writer

NEW YORK (AP) — Nathan Eovaldi has pitched more innings this year than ever before. His manager, though, doesn’t think fatigue is a factor in the right-hander’s late-season struggles.

“It’s hard to say a guy’s running out of steam when he’s still running it up there at 96, 97 (mph),” Marlins manager Mike Redmond said. “He’s just making mistakes. He’s making mistakes and they’re making him pay.”

Eovaldi didn’t make it through the fifth inning for the second straight start, allowing six runs in Miami’s 9-1 loss to the New York Mets on Tuesday night.

Eovaldi breezed through the first three innings, but was tagged for four runs in the fourth and was lifted with one out in the fifth. He pitched 186 2-3 innings this season. His highest before this year was 119 2-3 innings in 2012 for the Dodgers and Marlins.

“I still feel great. I don’t think it has anything to do with the season or the innings,” Eovaldi said. “It just comes down to being able to execute the pitches when you need to.”

Once Eovaldi was gone, Wilmer Flores homered twice off Brad Penny and drove in six runs for the second time this year to help the Mets end a three-game skid.

Just hours after Commissioner Bud Selig said he was impressed with the manner in which the Mets were rebuilding, the 23-year-old Flores hit a three-run shot in the fifth and a two-run drive in the seventh.

He also had an RBI double in the fourth as the Mets scored their most runs at home since they tallied 11 against the Phillies on July 30. Making a push to prove he deserves a starting role next season, Flores is 8 for 15 with three homers and 10 RBIs in his last four games.

“I think what he’s done offensively has helped him defensively,” Mets manager Terry Collins said of Flores, who has been knocked for his play in the field.

Ruben Tejada capped a four-run fourth inning with a two-run double, and Curtis Granderson had an RBI single for New York.

Bartolo Colon (14-12) bounced back from his shortest outing of the year to pitch 7 2-3 innings for New York, allowing one run and a season-high 12 hits. The only extra-base hit was a double to Reed Johnson, who had three hits. Colon struck out seven without a walk.

“I was able to execute at the right moment to get out of the big inning,” the always smiling Colon said through a translator.

The Mets and Marlins each have 73 wins in the competition for third place in the NL East. New York has two more losses with 10 games to play. Miami, which outhit the Mets 13-12, has 12 games remaining.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Marlins: Giancarlo Stanton was undergoing tests in Miami to determine if he will be able to play again this year. He was hit in the face by a pitch on Thursday and sustained facial fractures, cuts and dental damage. He posted gruesome photos on his Instagram account Tuesday, showing how much he has healed in the five days. The first photo was taken hours after he was beaned. “We’ll have an official statement (Wednesday), but it’s probably not looking good for him,” Redmond said after the game.

Mets: CF Juan Lagares left the game because of a hyperextended right elbow before the fifth inning, and he said the elbow was sore. He will be re-evaluated Wednesday. … RHP Matt Harvey (elbow surgery) felt great a day after his simulated game thrown from the Citi Field mound. “It was a bright, bright spot for us, knowing he is going to be a hundred percent,” Collins said.

UP NEXT

Marlins RHP Henderson Alvarez (10-6) goes for his fifth career win vs. the Mets. New York RHP Dillon Gee (7-7), however is undefeated in five starts against Miami (3-0, 2.30 ERA).

NOISY NEW YORK

Redmond and Marlins pitcher Jarred Cosart weren’t too happy with the sounds coming from the street outside the team’s midtown hotel. “Thanks New York construction for beginning your jack hammering at 730 am. Im sure everyone appreciates it. #Nofeel #cleanitup,” Cosart tweeted. Redmond said he could hear the work from his room on the 40th floor.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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