Major League Baseball

Marlins 2, Mets 1

Updated Mar. 5, 2020 1:50 a.m. ET

foxsports

NEW YORK -- Dee Gordon singled to cap an epic 16-pitch at-bat in the eighth inning Tuesday night and eventually trotted home with the tie-breaking run on a sacrifice fly by pinch-hitter Martin Prado as the Miami Marlins beat the New York Mets, 2-1, at Citi Field.

The Marlins (3-3) have won the first two games of the three-game series. The Mets (2-5) have dropped four straight.

Gordon struck out the first three times he faced Mets starter Noah Syndergaard, and fell into a quick 1-2 hole leading off the eighth against Jim Henderson. But Gordon fouled off 11 straight 2-2 pitches before singling to shallow left.

Gordon then stole second before Henderson retired Marcell Ozuna on a pop-up and walked Christian Yelich and Giancarlo Stanton. Prado greeted Jerry Blevins with a sacrifice fly to deep center field and Gordon scored without a throw.

Derek Dietrich had two hits, including an RBI single in the fourth, for the Marlins.

Right-hander David Phelps earned the win with two no-hit innings. A.J. Ramos notched his second save with a one-hit ninth.

Henderson, who had struck out seven over three perfect innings entering Tuesday, took the loss.

Lucas Duda had an RBI single in the first inning.

The pitcher's duel between a pair of electric young right-handers -- Syndergaard and the Marlins' Jose Fernandez -- lived up to expectations.

Syndergaard allowed one run on seven hits and one walk while striking out 12 over seven innings. He retired the first eight batters he faced, including six by strikeout, before Fernandez beat out an infield single. Syndergaard struck out every batter in the Marlins' lineup at least once except Ozuna.

Fernandez allowed one run on three hits and three walks while striking out five over five innings. He threw 51 pitches in the first two innings but set down the final 10 batters he faced, including six by strikeout.

NOTES: RHP Rafael Montero was with the Mets in New York on Tuesday but not yet on the active roster. Manager Terry Collins said Montero, who began the season with Triple-A Las Vegas, is in town as insurance in case the Mets needed to use Wednesday's starter, RHP Logan Verrett, out of the bullpen Tuesday. If that were to occur, Montero would be activated to start Wednesday. ... Mets RHP Jacob deGrom, whose Wednesday start was scratched due to a right lat injury, welcomed his first child, a son named Jaxon, on Monday. ... Marlins 3B Derek Dietrich and C Jeff Mathis drew their first starts of the season Tuesday. ... Marlins manager Don Mattingly said LHP Mike Dunn (forearm) experienced a setback during a throwing session and will see team doctors.