Takeaways as Miami Marlins rally in ninth inning to split doubleheader with New York Mets

The Miami Marlins could heard the chants coming from behind their dugout as they began to put together their game-winning rally.

“Let’s go Marlins,” the small but mighty group bellowed in the top of the ninth inning at the New York Mets’ Citi Field.

The Marlins’ regular season is winding down to its final days and they’re still fighting day by day to hopefully secure a spot in the postseason for the first time in a full season since winning the World Series in 2003.

“We want to put on a show here and make the playoffs,” outfielder Bryan De La Cruz said. “That’s the job we’re trying to do and the goal we’re trying to pursue.”

De La Cruz did his part to put on a show in that ninth inning. His RBI single to left field capped Miami’s two-run ninth inning that broke open a tie game and led to a 4-2 win over the Mets to split a doubleheader Wednesday.

Miami, which lost the first game 11-2, is now 82-76 on the season, ensuring the Marlins will have a winning record in a non-shortened season for the first time since 2009. The Mets are 72-86.

“Getting a split was huge,” Marlins manager Skip Schumaker said. “Obviously you want to win two games ... but every win’s a big deal right now.”

The nightcap game was tied 2-2 heading into the ninth inning as the Mets brought closer Adam Ottavino to the mound. The Marlins loaded the bases on back-to-back singles from Xavier Edwards and Jon Berti before Josh Bell was intentionally walked. Yuli Gurriel, pinch-hitting for an ejected Jake Burger, hit a groundball to third baseman Brett Baty that was not fielded cleanly and allowed Edwards to score from third to give Miami a 3-2 lead.

De La Cruz then hit his RBI single to provide an insurance run.

Berti and Jesus Sanchez each hit solo home runs to score the Marlins’ first two runs of the game.

The Marlins are now 8-8 this season when tied after eight innings.

“We’ve done this before, all year,” Schumaker said. “We’re coming back. We’re always in it. It doesn’t matter who it is. ... Just proud of the guys.”

Here are three takeaways from the doubleheader.

Marlins don’t overtax their pitching staff

Even though starters Braxton Garrett and Johnny Cueto combined for just 8 1/3 innings across the two games, the Marlins were able to manage their bullpen efficiently in the doubleheader, which is key with four games in as many days to close out the regular season and the need to have as many (or, ideally, all) of their high-leverage relievers available on any given night.

Perhaps that’s one of the few bright sides of being down a few starting pitchers.

Miami used just three relievers in Game 1, with Steven Okert and JT Chargois each pitching an inning before Enmannuel De Jesus pitched the final two innings once the game got out of reach.

In Game 2, A.J. Puk followed Cueto and threw 1 2/3 scoreless innings before David Robertson pitched the seventh, Matt Moore the eighth and Andrew Nardi the ninth to record his third save of the season.

Miami has three relievers — Bryan Hoeing, George Soriano and Huascar Brazoban — who did not pitch in either game of the doubleheader. Tanner Scott, who is on the paternity list, will likely rejoin the group either Thursday or Friday as well.

A productive day for Jon Berti

Berti, who started at second base in Game 1 and third base in Game 2, went a combined 4 for 7 with one double, one triple, one home run, two walks, an RBI a stolen base and two runs scored over the two games Wednesday.

Berti led off the nightcap by hitting a solo home run against Kodai Senga to give the Marlins an early 1-0 lead. He sent a Senga forkball a projected 406 feet to center field. It was the first time Senga has allowed a home run on that pitch this season.

Over his past eight games, Berti is hitting .542 (13 for 24) with two doubles, four home runs and six runs scored.

Where things stand in the playoff race

At 82-76, the Marlins are now back in the National League’s third and final wild card spot with four games left to play.

Miami and the Chicago Cubs are technically tied, but the Marlins own the tiebreaker because they won the season series against the Cubs.

The Marlins have one more game against the Mets on Thursday before closing the season with three games at the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Cubs play one more with the Atlanta Braves before going to the Milwaukee Brewers to end the season.

This and that

▪ Jorge Soler, who started Game 1 in right field, did not play in Game 2 due to right side discomfort. Second baseman Luis Arraez (left ankle) did not play in either game.

▪ Burger’s ejection came after he slammed his helmet on the ground after being called out on strikes with the game tied 2-2, the bases loaded and two outs in the seventh inning on a pitch that was outside the strike zone. Schumaker left the dugout to defend Burger and was ejected, too.

“I‘m a little upset,” Schumaker said of the ejections. “Burger didn’t say anything. He threw his helmet down out of frustration. Didn’t throw it at him. It’s a very intense game. A big, high level moment in our season and in the game. He threw his helmet down, gets tossed. Didn’t ‘mother-eff’ anybody. Didn’t do anything. Didn’t say anything. And gets tossed. By the way, he was right. It was a ball. That’s frustrating. Every pitch matters. Get it right. And if you get it wrong, it’s OK, but don’t toss out one of our best players with where we are in the season. Don’t be so sensitive is what my issue was. You have a conversation and then if he does something that warrants a toss, I get it, but you can’t just toss to toss a guy right now at this part of the season. I didn’t love it.”

Burger added: “It’s more just frustration on my part. ... Maybe I feel like it’s a little quick trigger, but I let my emotions get the best of me and I’m just really really proud of the team and Yuli be coming up in that big situation, getting the ball in play. Just focus on tomorrow and, you know, move on from this.”