Rosario two run double as Mets beat Marlins in home ground

Amed Rosario slashed a two-run double during a five-run first inning and Justin Wilson earned his first save since 2017 as the New York Mets held on to beat the host Miami Marlins 6-5 on Tuesday night. Wilson Ramos and Dominic Smith each went 2-for-5 with one RBI for the Mets, who clinched their second straight series to start the year.

Jason Vargas (1-0) earned the win, allowing eight hits, one walk and two runs in five innings. He is 3-1 in his career against the Marlins. Marlins Opening Day starter Jose Urena (0-2) took the loss, allowing seven hits, one walk and five runs in four innings.

Urena gave up all five of his runs in a 40-pitch first inning as New York loaded the bases with one out on singles by Brandon Nimmo and Jeff McNeil and a walk from Michael Conforto. The Mets then got RBIs from Ramos and Smith, Rosario's two-run double and Juan Lagares' run-scoring groundout. The Mets had four batted balls hit harder than 100 mph in the frame, which was New York's most productive first inning since May 6, 2017, also against the Marlins.

Miami cut its deficit to 5-1 with consecutive one-out doubles by Curtis Granderson and Brian Anderson in the bottom of the first. Marlins second baseman Starlin Castro slugged a solo homer in the fifth to make it 5-2. It was Castro's second homer in as many games.

New York extended its lead to 6-2 in the seventh on Nimmo's RBI hit-by-pitch. The play was originally called a foul ball but was overturned after an appeal by Mets manager Mickey Callaway. Marlins reliever Wei-Yin Chen got out of the jam he created by striking out hot-hitting rookie Pete Alonso on three pitches, the third one looking.

Miami cut its deficit to 6-5 with two runs in the seventh and one in the eighth -- and all three were charged to reliever Seth Lugo. Lewis Brinson and Peter O'Brien lined RBI singles in the seventh, and Miami loaded the bases with one out in the eighth. However, the Mets brought in Wilson, who got out of the mess on four pitches. JT Riddle got an RBI groundout, but Jorge Alfaro struck out swinging at all three pitches to end the threat. Wilson escaped a two-on, one-out jam in the ninth when Miguel Rojas lined into a double play, and Brinson was caught off second base. 

(With inputs from agencies.)