Rookie Cody Poteet pitched seven scoreless innings, retired the last 14 batters he faced and collected his first major league hit and RBI in a five-run second inning to help the Miami Marlins beat the New York Mets 5-1 Sunday.
Miami took the rubber game of the three-game series to close to within two games of the NL East-leading Mets (21-19), who have been riddled by injuries and finished 3-6 on a three-city Southern swing.
Poteet (2-0) allowed three hits, walked none and lowered his ERA to 1.06 in three career starts. The right-hander from UCLA, a fourth-round draft pick by Miami in 2015, posted a 19-39 record in the minors before reaching the majors this month at age 26.
The Mets, who rank last in the majors in slugging, managed just six hits and totaled 19 in 30 innings in the series.
Miami's Jesús Aguilar, who began the day second in the NL in RBI, singled home a run to end a 1-for-28 skid. Jazz Chisholm singled for the Marlins' other run-scoring hit.
Jordan Yamamoto (1-1) lasted four innings in his first start of the year and his first against his former team. He allowed five runs, four earned, and left the game with right shoulder soreness.
The Marlins' second-inning outburst included a 40-foot single by Poteet, a hit batsman, a walk and a throwing error by shortstop Francisco Lindor, which led to an unearned run.
Wifredo Tovar singled home the Mets' only run in the eighth.
New York heads home for a seven game homestand starting with four games against the Colorado Rockies Monday at 7:10. The Rockies are just 2-17 on the road so far this season.
The Mets are hopeful ace Jacob deGrom will be able to come off the injured list and make the start Tuesday.
(Photo: Getty Images)