Cabrera, Willingham slug Fish past slumping Mets

Baseball Betting Lines

08/12/2007 - Flushing, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Miguel Cabrera's tie-breaking, two-run single in the eighth inning lifted the Florida Marlins over the New York Mets, 7-5, at Shea Stadium.

Josh Willingham went 3-for-5 with a grand slam and a career-high tying five RBI for the Marlins, who have won each of the first two games of this three- game set in dramatic style. Hanley Ramirez, who ended 2-for-5 with two runs scored and a stolen base, won the opener for Florida on Friday night with a two-run, ninth-inning double off New York closer Billy Wagner.

In this game it wasn't Wagner, but two other relievers who let this one get away for New York, which has dropped three straight and four of five during its six-game homestand. Guillermo Mota let a two-run lead slip away in the seventh and, after the offense rallied to tie the game in the bottom of the inning, Aaron Heilman let Florida regain the momentum in the eighth.

David Wright hit a pair of homers, going 3-for-4, and drove in three runs for the Mets, who had their lead in the NL East fall to 2 1/2 games over Atlanta. The Braves beat the Phillies, 7-5, on Friday night to move back into second place in the division, one-half game ahead of Philadelphia.

Jose Reyes went 2-for-4, but was thrown out at home for the final out of the seventh inning trying to score the go-ahead run on a Wright fly out. The bang- bang play at the plate went in favor of the Marlins and proved costly for the Mets.

The Marlins went ahead for good in their next at-bat. With one out and the game tied at 5-5, Cody Ross, who gunned down Reyes after catching Wright's fly ball in foul territory, worked a walk off Heilman. Pinch-hitter Jeremy Hermida followed by getting hit by a pitch. Ramirez grounded into a fielder's choice, forcing out Hermida at second, but Alejandro De Aza then walked to load the bases for Cabrera, who drove a 1-2 change-up that was right down the middle of the plate into center to score a pair of runs.

Cabrera ended 2-for-3 with a pair of walks.

Taylor Tankersley worked the eighth for Florida and Kevin Gregg tossed the ninth for his 26th save of the season. Facing pinch-hitter Carlos Beltran as the potential tying run, Gregg struck him out to end the game. Beltran struck out looking against Gregg on Friday night.

Justin Miller (4-0) got the win despite blowing a 5-3 lead in the seventh.

Heilman (7-4) suffered the loss, blowing a strong start from starter Tom Glavine.

Glavine, in his first start since picking up the 300th win of his career, received a no-decision. The left-hander allowed two runs on seven hits in 6 1/3 innings. He walked one and struck out five, as the bullpen again blew a potential win for the veteran.

Wright broke the scoreless deadlock in the bottom of the fourth inning, cracking his first homer of the game, a two-run shot off Florida starting pitcher Scott Olsen.

Then, after Willingham drove in De Aza with a base hit in the sixth, Wright answered with his second homer for a 3-1 cushion.

The Marlins rallied in the seventh as Ross began the inning with a single off Glavine. After pinch-hitter Todd Linden flew out, Glavine was lifted in favor of Mota, who promptly allowed a base hit to Ramirez, struck out De Aza and intentionally walked Cabrera to load the bases for Willingham.

The move backfired as Willingham deposited a 2-0 fastball that was middle-in into the seats in left to give the Marlins a 5-3 lead.

New York, though, tied the game in the bottom of the inning. After consecutive singles to start the inning by Lastings Milledge and Ramon Castro put runners on first and second, Reyes bunted for a base hit and Milledge came all the way around from second to score when Olivo's throw hit Reyes and bounced away.

Reyes eventually stole second with Luis Castillo at the plate and Castro scored when Castillo grounded out to second. Wright then flew out to Ross in foul territory down the rightfield line and Reyes was thrown out at the plate trying to score on the play. The throw was a bit off target, but Olivo lunged back to the plate in time to tag out Reyes in the opinion of home plate umpire Alfonso Marquez.

Replays showed that Reyes might have touched home plate before the tag was applied.

Olsen avoided a decision, yielding three runs on seven hits over six innings.

Game Notes

Beltran did not start the game to rest his oblique muscle. He came off the DL on Friday and hit a homer...Ramirez has a nine-game hit streak...Willingham's grand slam was the first of his career. He has 18 HRs this season...Wright has 22 HRs this year. This was his second two-HR game of the season and ninth of his career.