The Mets fell to a season-worst five games under .500 with their offense close to a total no-show as the Marlins completed a three-game sweep. After getting one hit on Saturday, the Mets managed just two hits -- making Sunday the first time since 1967 that they were held to two or fewer hits in back-to-back games. >> Box score
Five things to know about Sunday's game...
1) With manager Mickey Callaway's job potentially on the line, the Mets' offense reached a new low -- with Marlins RHP Sandy Alcantara reaching the eighth inning having thrown just 62 pitches. Yes, 62 pitches. Alcantara faltered a bit in the eighth, but came back out for the ninth with only 78 pitches under his belt and retired the side in order to complete the shutout. It took him 89 total pitches. The game took one hour and 59 minutes.
2) Two days after not running hard on a double play ball and blaming the scoreboard for listing the incorrect number of outs, Robinson Cano hit a ball in front of the plate and didn't run at all. The result? Another double play.
3) Noah Syndergaard was perfect through four innings and held the Marlins scoreless until the sixth, when a double and bunt single (with J.D. Davis botching the play) put him in trouble. The Marlins took a 1-0 lead on a double play grounder and then added a run in the seventh inning on a sacrifice fly to extend their lead to 2-0. Overall, Syndergaard allowed two runs on five hits while walking one and striking out three as he turned in his second consecutive strong outing.
4) Callway and head trainer Brian Chicklo came out to check on Syndergaard during the seventh inning, when it appeared they were looking at a blister on a finger of his throwing hand. Syndergaard finished the inning, but was pulled at that point after having thrown just 82 pitches.
5) After a Pete Alonso walk and gift error by Alcantara gave th Mets runners on first and second with one out in the top of the eighth, Dominic Smith pinch-hit and hit a 6-6-3 double play on a 3-1 pitch. That snuffed out the Mets' only real scoring threat of the game.
What's next
The Mets open a four-game series against the Nationals on Monday night at Citi Field.