• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers
• Game Tracker

Mets, Marlins cap disappointing seasons in Miami

Oct 3, 2012 - 2:24 PM (Sports Network) - Bronx-born right-hander Tom Koehler makes the first start of his major-league career Wednesday when the Miami Marlins host the New York Mets in the finale of both a three-game series and the 2012 regular season at Marlins Park.

A 26-year-old product of New York's Stony Brook University, Koehler was a 16th-round pick of the Marlins in 2008 and reached the majors with them in September.

He appeared out of the bullpen in seven straight outings while allowing a combined five runs on nine hits in 8 1/3 innings, though five of the seven appearances were scoreless.

Koehler has faced the Mets twice in his initial stretch as a big-leaguer, tossing a scoreless one-hit inning in New York on Sept. 22, following by two- thirds of an inning on Oct. 1 in Miami, when he allowed a run on three hits.

Prior to his September callup, Koehler started 27 times in 28 appearances at Triple-A New Orleans and posted a 4.17 earned run average in 151 innings.

Veteran Chad Gaudin had been scheduled to start for the first time since 2009, but he pitched an inning of relief in Miami's win in game two of the series on Tuesday.

New York replies with rookie righty Jeremy Hefner, who can end his inaugural big-league season with two consecutive victories.

The 26-year-old had dropped three straight decisions across nine appearances before ending the skid with a 6-0 defeat of the Pittsburgh Pirates on Sept. 26.

He tossed seven scoreless innings while allowing three hits, walking one and striking out seven while lowering his 2012 earned run average from 5.79 to 5.32.

He last faced Miami on Sept. 1 at Marlins Park and got a no-decision in the Mets' 5-3 win after allowing two runs on six hits in six innings.

On Tuesday, Donovan Solano drove home the game-winning run with a single in the bottom of the 11th, as the Marlins defeated the Mets, 4-3.

Jose Reyes tripled to leadoff the inning and Colin McHugh (0-4) intentionally walked Giancarlo Stanton and Carlos Lee before Solano stroked a base hit up the middle.

"We had the right man in the right spot," Guillen said. "We knew he was going to put the ball in play, he came through for us one more time."

Miami's Adam Greenberg, who got his first major league at-bat since July 9, 2005, struck out on three pitches. The Marlins signed the 31-year-old to a one-day contract earlier on Tuesday.

"The energy in the stadium was something I never experienced in my life, and I don't know if I will ever experience again," Greenberg said.

Former Marlins pitcher Valerio De Los Santos hit Greenberg in the head during his major league debut with the Chicago Cubs over seven years ago. The incident derailed his career, as he suffered from vertigo and vision problems for some time thereafter.

Scott Hairston and David Wright drove in a run apiece for the Mets, who have lost four in a row on the heels of a three-game winning streak.

Miami starter Jacob Turner tossed a solid 7 2/3 innings. Charged with a run on three hits and two walks, Turner left the game with a lead but the Mets tied it after he exited.

The Mets won 11 of the initial 15 games between the teams in 2012, including the last seven in a row since they dropped a 13-0 decision in New York on Aug. 8.