Zack Wheeler’s possible farewell performance for the Mets lasted one inning too long, but it was hardly a catastrophe.
After firing seven shutout innings and delivering a go-ahead RBI single Thursday night, Wheeler returned to pitch the eighth and finally caved to the Marlins.
Curtis Granderson’s tie-breaking homer became the dagger in the Mets’ 4-2 loss at Citi Field, on their first night of meaningless September baseball. The Mets were eliminated from postseason contention Wednesday.
In a scoreless deadlock, Wheeler was allowed to bat with the bases loaded in the seventh and drove in the game’s first run with an RBI single. Brandon Nimmo’s sacrifice fly moments later provided a cushion.
But Wheeler was roughed up in the eighth, allowing a two-run homer to Tyler Heineman to tie it 2-2 before Granderson, pinch-hitting, cleared the fence in right-center.
Wheeler can head to free agency after the season, though the Mets are expected to at least extend him a qualifying offer. He finished with a 3.96 ERA over a career-high 195 ¹/₃ innings.
Edwin Diaz received an earful of jeers after surrendering a solo homer to Austin Dean in the ninth that gave the Marlins their final run.
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