The New York Mets’ playoff hopes ended with a thud Sunday afternoon, as the Miami Marlins used a four-run fourth inning and five strong innings from Edward Cabrera to shut out their NL East rivals 4-0 at Citi Field.
The loss not only ended the Mets’ season at 83-79 but also officially knocked them out of the playoff field. New York needed a win and a Cincinnati loss at Milwaukee to sneak into the postseason. The Reds did their part by losing 4-2 to the Brewers, but by virtue of winning the head-to-head season series with New York, Cincinnati claimed the final National League wild card spot.
Cabrera (8-7) set the tone for Miami, working around five walks while holding the Mets to just two hits across five innings. The 26-year-old right-hander struck out seven and never let New York find a rhythm at the plate.
Mets starter Sean Manaea fanned three over 1 2/3 hitless innings but was lifted by manager Carlos Mendoza after issuing his second walk of the game. Huascar Brazobán cleaned up the second inning, but the Mets’ bullpen carousel quickly began to wobble.
The breaking point came in the fourth inning. Connor Norby led off with a single against Brooks Raley (3-1), and Mendoza immediately turned to Ryne Stanek. The move backfired when Eric Wagaman ripped a run-scoring double to put Miami on the board. Brian Navarreto followed with another RBI double, Javier Sanoja added a run-scoring triple, and Xavier Edwards capped the rally with an RBI single off Tyler Rogers. By the time the dust settled, the Marlins led 4-0 — and the Mets never recovered.
New York’s offense, meanwhile, faltered in key moments. Francisco Lindor doubled in the seventh, one of just five Mets hits on the day, but the team went 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position and stranded 10 baserunners. The critical at-bat came in the fifth when the Mets loaded the bases with three walks. Pete Alonso, representing their best hope, scorched a 116-mph liner to left — right at the outfielder for the final out of the inning.
The Mets used eight pitchers, including closer Edwin Díaz, who tossed scoreless frames in the fifth and sixth. But the lack of timely hitting doomed them. Their season fittingly ended when Lindor grounded into a game-ending double play.
The Marlins (77-85), already eliminated from contention, nevertheless relished the chance to spoil their rivals’ season. They also claimed the season series over the Mets, 7-6.
Alonso’s fifth-inning lineout with the bases loaded, a 116-mph rocket that found leather, effectively killed New York’s best scoring chance.
The Mets were a major league-best 45-24 through June 12, only to collapse down the stretch, going 38-55 the rest of the way.
For the Mets, it was a season that began with promise but ended with disappointment. For the Marlins, it was one final bright spot in a rebuilding year — and a reminder that in baseball, the role of spoiler can be just as satisfying as the one of contender.
