Unaccustomed to a rare three-run lead, the Miami Marlins couldn't hold it.
The worst-hitting team in the majors managed 13 hits Wednesday, but that wasn't enough to compensate for a bullpen meltdown, and Miami lost to the New York Mets, 7-6.
The Marlins (8-20), who have the NL's worst record, missed a chance for a three-game sweep and embark on their longest trip of the season.
"It's tough to sweep teams in the big leagues," manager Mike Redmond said. "At the end of the day we won a series, and that's huge, and hopefully something we can build off during this road trip."
The Marlins matched their best first inning of the season to take a 3-0 lead, and they were up 4-1 when the Mets rallied. Jordany Valdespin put New York ahead to stay in the sixth with his second homer, and NL RBIs leader John Buck added a two-run double in the seventh.
The Mets broke a six-game losing streak.
Marcell Ozuna, who made his big league debut Tuesday, had two of Miami's 13 hits. Wade LeBlanc gave up four runs in 5 2-3 innings, and the Marlins fell to 0-6 in his starts.
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"It's frustrating getting spotted three runs and letting the other team kind of creep back in," LeBlanc said.
After LeBlanc departed, Valdespin greeted A.J. Ramos (0-1) with a home run to put the Mets up 5-4.
"It was a bad pitch up in the zone," Ramos said. "He was looking for it, and he did what he's supposed to do with that pitch. He hit it out."
Miami's relievers gave up three runs in four innings.
"Our bullpen has been great all year, and every once in a while this is going to happen," Redmond said.
Miami came from behind in the final inning to win the first two games of the series, but this time the New York bullpen — ranked next to last in the majors in ERA — protected a lead. Bobby Parnell pitched a perfect ninth for his third save in five chances.
John Buck and David Wright each had three of New York's 13 hits. NL RBIs leader Buck hit a two-run double, and Wright contributed his third homer for the Mets, who totaled only 11 runs during their losing streak.
"We got some offense going," manager Terry Collins said. "The most frustrating thing about the past six days is we've been in the games. We've given ourselves a chance, we just haven't been able to create any offense. Hopefully today is a start."
The dormant attack finally came alive in the sixth. Valdespin's second homer of the year was his sixth pinch-homer since breaking into the majors in 2012, which ties him for second place on the team's all-time list.
"For some reason he loves to come off the bench when the pressure's on," Collins said. "It's amazing what he has done as a pinch-hitter. His eyes seem to get bigger, and he seems to see the ball better."
Wright homered in the fourth, scored three times and made a barehanded grab and throw at third base in the seventh inning to keep a runner stranded at third. Afterward he was wrapped from neck to torso because of various maladies, including a stiff neck, but said he had been eager to play Wednesday.
"We need all the wins we can get, especially with the way we've been playing," Wright said. "You want to be in there and help out."
Dillon Gee (2-4) won despite allowing four runs and nine hits in five innings. The Mets had scored a total of 10 runs in his previous five starts.
Mets center fielder Juan Lagares threw out Nick Green trying to score from second on LeBlanc's one-out single in the fourth. LeBlanc took second on the play and came home on a single by Juan Pierre, sliding hard into catcher Buck's left knee to beat Lagares' throw.
LeBlanc was shaken up, but after a visit with the trainer he stayed in the game.
