Janson Junk and four relievers combined on a seven-hitter Friday night for the visiting Miami Marlins, who beat the New York Mets 5-2, leveling the four-game series at one win apiece.
Jakob Marsee, Joe Mack and Xavier Edwards had RBI hits during a four-run fifth inning for the Marlins, who have won four of five following a 12-game losing streak. Kyle Stowers added a solo homer in the sixth.
A.J. Ewing had a run-scoring single and Francisco Lindor homered for the Mets, who fell to 7-7 since the All-Star break. Carson Benge went 3-for-4.
Junk (5-6) gave up an unearned run on three hits and two walks while striking out four over five innings. The 30-year-old right-hander, who made his fourth start since returning from the injured list July 9, retired the first 10 batters he faced and didn’t allow a hit until Benge doubled with two outs in the fourth.
Cade Gibson, Calvin Faucher and Tyler Zuber combined to allow one run over three innings before Pete Fairbanks threw a 1-2-3 ninth for his 16th save.
Kodai Senga (0-8) took the loss as the last-second starter for the Mets, who scratched Freddy Peralta because New York is involved in trade talks involving the impending free agent. Senga allowed three runs on two hits and two walks while striking out four over four-plus innings.
Senga, making his first start since June 23, allowed just one hit — Mack’s third-inning double — through four innings before tiring in the fifth. Griffin Conine and Heriberto Hernandez worked walks to open the frame before Marsee chased Senga with a two-run double to right.
Mack greeted Xzavion Curry with a run-scoring single and went to second on Javier Sanoja’s groundout before scoring on Edwards’ two-out bloop single.
The Mets scratched out an unearned run in the bottom of the fifth. Jorge Polanco reached on a two-out error at first base by Stowers. Francisco Alvarez walked before Polanco scored on Ewing’s single to center.
Stowers went deep with one out in the sixth, and Lindor homered off the second deck in right in the seventh.
