Rookie Khalil Lee hit a tiebreaking RBI double in the 12th inning for his first major league hit after strikeouts in his first eight at-bats — a major league record — and the New York Mets beat the Miami Marlins 6-5 Friday.
"This is about the best scenario you could draw up, to come up in a big situation with the team counting on me, and to come through with the lights shining," Lee said.
Lee also got the ball from his first hit. He said he is giving it to his parents, who also have his first home run ball from when he was a kid.
Jake Hager's leadoff single in the Mets 12th off Adam Cimber (0-1) which also was his first of his career, advanced the automatic runner to third. After Lee's hit Johneshwy Fargas,hit a two-run triple but was thrown out trying to stretch his hit into an inside-the-park homer
Lee made his big league debut this past week, and manager Luis Rojas said it was exciting to see him come through after looking uncomfortable at the plate in earlier games.
"He was trying to hit the ball 600 feet," Rojas said. "The kid has pop. That's what got him here. He just has to make contact."
The Mets won despite totaling only eight hits against 10 Miami pitchers. The Miami bullpen retired 15 consecutive batters during one stretch.
"It's a big win," Rojas said. "It's emotional because of all the things we had to do."
Miami's Garrett Cooper tied the game with a two-run homer in the seventh, his fourth. But he struck out against Trevor May with the bases loaded to end the eighth.
Drew Smith (1-0) stranded a runner at third in the 11th.Jacob Barnes got the game's final out for his first save since 2018.
"The pen has been incredible," Mets starter Marcus Stroman said. "They've showed up every single time."
The Marlins went 3 for 17 with runners in scoring position. They fell to 4-9 in one-run games.
Stroman allowed two runs in six-plus innings and struck out eight, but he remained winless since April 18.
He departed after giving up a leadoff walk in the seventh, and Cooper followed with his homer off Miguel Castro.
Francisco Lindor and Tomás Nido contributed RBI doubles for the Mets. Lindor drove home the first run in the first inning, and he scored from second on a flyout when center fielder Magneuris Sierramade an errant throw to third.
Nido's RBI double came in the fourth, but he was thrown out by Sierra trying to score on a two-out single.
The Mets Improved to 21-17 on the season and with the Phillies losing they extend their lead in the NL East to 2 1/2 games and 6 in the loss column.
New York has six consecutive victories in Miami since July of 2019.
Mets ace Jacob deGrom (right side tightness), who worked three hitless innings Thursday in a rehab outing for the St. Lucie Mets, is scheduled to throw a side session Sunday and pitch in another game on Tuesday. It has yet to be determined whether that outing will be with the Mets or another rehab start, Rojas said.
(Photo: Getty Images)