Behind Mejia’s debut, first-place Marlins keep rolling with series-opening win over Mets

The Miami Marlins handed Humberto Mejia a big task Friday. The 23-year-old starting pitcher had never played above the Class A Advanced level of minor-league ball.

Now, here he was, at Citi Field as a steady stream of rain fell on the ballpark thoughout the night, making his MLB debut in the series opener against the New York Mets as the Marlins piece together a new starting rotation after three of the group’s original five pitchers went on the injured list following the club’s COVID-19 outbreak that infected 18 players.

“This wasn’t something that really we envisioned before everything kind of went sideways pretty fast on us,” Marlins manager Don Mattingly said pregame. “We’ll see.”

Mejia held his own and got enough support from his offense before turning the game over to the bullpen.

The end result: A 4-3 Marlins win over the Mets, Miami’s fourth consecutive one-run win that extended the team’s overall win streak to six games. At 7-1, the Marlins continue their hold at the top of MLB’s standings (when going off win percentage). The record is also tied for the best eight-game start in franchise history, matching what the team did in 2009, 2004 and 1997.

A victory Saturday would give the Marlins’ their second seven-game win streak since Mattingly took over as manager.

“I’m happy we’re playing good,” Mattingly said. “This one, we’re gonna enjoy it, go back to our hotel — our bubble — and then come back and try to win a game tomorrow. That’s really what it’s all about. I’ve talked about the pennant race. It’s a grind. It’s day-to-day. You want to ride this wave as long as you can because you know you’re going to hit a stretch somewhere. ... You want to win every day. It’s early. We’ve got a long way to go. Trust me. There’s a lot of games to be played, but every day is important. That’s what we’ve been preaching.”

On Friday, that started with Mejia’s impromptu debut, who had an impressive night giving the situation he was thrown into.

He only lasted 2 1/3 innings but held the Mets (5-9) to one run (a Dominic Smith solo home run in the second). Six of Mejia’s seven outs were strikeouts.

“This was a very special day for me,” Mejia said through a translator. “It was something that I was dreaming about since I was a kid. I think I did a good job. I hope to be here for more games and have the opportunity to keep doing a good job.”

Mejia’s main problem: Long at-bats. Seven of the 11 batters he faced saw at least seven pitches. Of his 67 pitches, 43 went for strikes. More than half of those strikes (23) were foul balls.

Even at that, Mattingly came away impressed with the rookie’s composure.

“I liked it, actually,” Mattingly said. “He’s got a number of pitches. He did take some pitches to get through. He looks like he’s going to be a guy who will need to be able to pitch to contact, but he can do some things. He can elevate. He can get the ball to both sides. I thought for his first time out, he was pretty composed through the rain and the mud.”

Mejia is the eight Marlins player to make his MLB debut this season. The others: pitchers Nick Neidert, Jordan Holloway, Alex Vesia, Sterling Sharp and Jorge Guzman; outfielder Monte Harrison; and infielder Eddy Alvarez.

Mejia and the Marlins’ pitching staff received all the support they needed from the offense in the second inning. Catcher Francisco Cervelli opened scoring with an opposite-field, three-run home run. Jonathan Villar, who has hits in all five games since the Marlins returned to the field following their eight-day layoff, drove in Magneuris Sierra with an RBI double.

Justin Shafer (two innings), Stephen Tarpley (two innings), James Hoyt (2/3 inning), Richard Bleier (1/3 inning), Nick Vincent (1 2/3 innings) held the Mets to two runs over the final 6 2/3 innings to secure the win. The bullpen at one point retired 13 consecutive Mets hitters.

Both runs came in the eighth where the Marlins almost let their lead slip away.

Up 4-1 at the start of the frame with Hoyt on the mound, Amed Rosario led off with a double to right-center. Bleier took over from there and gave up a walk to Brian Dozier and a single to Pete Alonso to load the bases with one out. It could have been worse if not for Alvarez making a leaping grab on a Jeff McNeil line drive.

But the pitching carousel continued. Out goes Bleier. In comes Vincent. Two runs scored in the first two plate appearances to cut Miami’s lead to one. Michael Conforto dribbled a ball to Brain Anderson at third base for a fielder’s choice that scored Rosario when Anderson’s throw home went wide. J.D. Davis followed with an RBI single.

Vincent closed with five consecutive outs to secure the win and his first save of the season.

“We don’t have to be beautiful. We don’t have to win games in a beautiful way,” Cervelli told Fox Sports Florida after the game. “We just have to win and score one more run than everybody else.”

Off day for Monte

Mattingly said Monte Harrison had an X-ray taken of his knee after his third-inning collision with the wall in center field at Oriole Park on Thursday trying to track down a fly ball from Anthony Santander.

Harrison stayed in the game but got a little sore as the game went on. He had some swelling Friday and was given the day off.

”I think they checked out the wall and it had a little crack in it,” Mattingly said.

This and that

▪ Jesus Aguilar hit two doubles Friday to give him 300 hits for his MLB career.

▪ Sierra, hitting ninth, reached base safely in each of his first three plate appearances Friday with a pair of walks and a single. In limited playing time, the 24-year-old outfielder has a .500 on-base percentage after going 3-for-9 with three walks and a hit-by-pitch.