The Mets dented the Marlins’ spirits Tuesday and playoff hopes Wednesday.
After a controversial rainout a night earlier — a game called long after the rain had stopped because the field was still a mess — the Mets listened to the Marlins complain and then smacked those Marlins around.
The eliminated Mets played spoiler against the in-the-hunt Marlins by taking the first game of a doubleheader, 11-2, in front of a sparse crowd in Queens.
The Marlins temporarily fell a full game back of the last NL wild-card spot largely because they have dropped three of four against the Mets in the past week and a half.
The Mets used a trio of two-run home runs, the first from Pete Alonso (No. 46 on the year), the second from Francisco Lindor (No. 28 as he eyes 30 homers and the already-accomplished 30 steals) and the final from Mark Vientos (his fourth in six games) to build a 6-0 lead.
The Mets added three more runs in the seventh inning, which featured a two-run single from Lindor, and two more in the eighth on a two-run double from Brandon Nimmo.
It was a good day for the veterans, as Alonso reached base in all five plate appearances and came a triple shy of the cycle.
Joey Lucchesi and the Mets’ bullpen took care of the rest.
Lucchesi went six-plus innings in which he was charged with two runs on seven hits and two walks, continuing to make a strong case that he belongs in the rotation next year.
Lucchesi shut down the Marlins for six innings before coming back for the seventh, in which he allowed back-to-back doubles to Jazz Chisholm Jr. and Nick Fortes.
Trevor Gott entered and allowed a sacrifice fly but nothing more.
The Marlins finished 1-for-12 with runners in scoring position; the Mets 6-for-10.
In three September starts, Lucchesi has surrendered four earned runs in 18 ²/₃ innings.
The lefty struggled with Triple-A Syracuse this year, but he likely will finish his major league season with a 2.89 ERA in nine starts.
The Marlins experienced a different kind of frustration against Lucchesi than they had a night prior.
The Miami organization was not happy the field was unplayable, which traced back to the Mets’ grounds crew not putting the tarp on Saturday, when Tropical Storm Ophelia ravaged the field.
A club source said the grounds crew felt there would be enough time for the field to dry, but Ophelia lingered.
So the Marlins were hung out to dry. A team desperate for starting pitchers could not use Braxton Garrett on Tuesday and had to burn Garrett on Wednesday, when the lefty allowed four runs in four innings.
Miami had hoped to pitch Garrett for the season finale Sunday, which now would come on three days’ rest.
If the Mets continue playing spoiler, though, he would not need to rush back.