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Ozuna's arm helps Marlins hold off Mets

Jun 21, 2014 - 6:01 AM Miami, FL (SportsNetwork.com) - Marcell Ozuna's second outfield assist in as many innings was the final out of the game, securing a 3-2 win for the Miami Marlins over the New York Mets in the second installment of a four-game set on Friday.

"I can't remember seeing a game decided by two great throws from a left fielder," Marlins manager Mike Redmond said.

The Marlins led 3-0 through seven innings but might have allowed the Mets to tie the game or jump in front had it not been for the strong right arm of Ozuna out in left field.

David Wright, who homered to provide the only run in New York's 1-0 win on Thursday, laced an RBI single to center to put the Mets on the board in the eighth inning against Kevin Gregg. Then, with the bases loaded and Mike Dunn on the mound, Eric Campbell smoked a single to left. Curtis Granderson scored easily, but Ozuna was able to fire home in time to get Wright to keep the Marlins in front.

"Obviously I got thrown out by about 10 feet so it wasn't a real close play," Wright said.

Steve Cishek served up a leadoff double to pinch-hitter Kirk Nieuwenhuis in the ninth inning. A sacrifice bunt moved him to third, and Chris Young launched a fly ball to left. Ozuna backtracked and made the catch before unleashing a dart to Jarrod Saltalamacchia in time to tag Nieuwenhuis and end the game.

Henderson Alvarez (4-3) tossed 6 1/3 scoreless innings for the Marlins, scattering seven hits and striking out five to help them snap a brief two-game slide. Cishek picked up his 17th save.

Alvarez has dominated at Marlins Park of late, yielding just two runs in 38 1/3 innings over his last five starts at home. He has also owned the Mets, improving to 4-0 in his last five starts against New York.

Daisuke Matsuzaka (3-1) pitched well, yielding just a run on six hits over 5 1/3 frames, but took his first loss of the season.

Rafael Furcal led off the home half of the first with a triple off the wall in right field. Adeiny Hechavarria plated him, grounding out to second, for an early 1-0 lead.

Miami threatened again in the fourth inning. Garrett Jones came up with a runner on second and one out and belted a hanging breaking ball that appeared to glance off the foul pole in right field. The play was ruled a home run on the field but after a review, umpires overturned the call and said Jones' ball went foul. He later grounded out, and Saltalamacchia was stranded on third when Marcell Ozuna struck out.

The Marlins tacked on two more crucial insurance runs in the seventh. Jake Marisnick scored the first run all by himself, singling, stealing second and third and scoring when catcher Anthony Recker's throw to third sailed past Wright and into left field. Justin Bour, who walked with Marisnick on second, advanced to third base on Furcal's groundout and scored on Hechavarria's double.

Game Notes

Miami has won Alvarez's last seven starts, though he is just 2-0 in that span ... The Marlins finished 1-for-11 with runners in scoring position ... Saltalamacchia went 2-for-4 with a pair of doubles ... The Mets have scored just 13 runs in their last seven games (3-4) ... Wright and Daniel Murphy had two hits apiece for the Mets, who outhit Miami 11-8.