Pablo Lopez’s nightmare season against the Mets continued as Marlins lose in rout

Pablo Lopez is aiming to pitch through an entire season for the first time in his career.

You might think Lopez wouldn’t mind if he didn’t have to see the New York Mets again this season.

Lopez continued to struggle mightily against the Mets, giving up a season-high eight runs on 10 hits over 3 ⅔ innings as the Marlins were crushed 11-3 by New York at loanDepot park.

The Mets did the bulk of their damage in the top of the fourth, scoring eight runs to break the game open.

“They had a lot of hits and I was hoping it was going to be one of those games where he’d give up hits but not a lot of runs and it didn’t happen,” Marlins manager Don Mattingly said. “They’ve been that club for him all season.”

The big blow in that inning came after Lopez exited following a walk to Tyler Naquin to load the bases. Mark Canha belted a 95-mph fastball from reliever Andrew Nardi for his first career grand slam.

Lopez allowed the first six batters to reach and the seventh - Jeff McNeil - hit a sacrifice fly to account for the first four runs in that inning.

“It just happened very quick after the leadoff walk,” Lopez said. “A lot of missed execution and when I didn’t execute my pitch they hit it hard.”

It was the fourth start this season for Lopez in which Lopez allowed six or more earned runs.

Three of those have come against the Mets, with the others on July 17 and July 31.

Lopez has an 11.34 ERA this season in four starts against the Mets, and a 3.15 ERA against every other team he’s faced. If Lopez continues to pitch as scheduled, he could face the Mets one more time when the Marlins travel to New York on Sept. 27.

“It’s a very good lineup and they make you have different plans than what you have prepared (for each start),” Lopez said. “Sometimes they catch you off guard in your plan A and you start trying too many things and you’re falling behind, they wait for their pitch and they capitalize on it.”

The loss guaranteed the Marlins (57-81) would not have a winning season for the 23rd time in franchise history.

The Marlins struck quickly in the first inning on Garrett Cooper’s RBI single off Mets starter Carlos Carrasco which scored Joey Wendle. But the Mets tied the game when McNeil doubled to drive home Francisco Lindor, who scored when catcher Jacob Stallings couldn’t handle an on-time throw which skipped on one bounce to the plate from right fielder Brian Anderson.

INJURY UPDATES

▪ Marlins manager Don Mattingly confirmed on Saturday what many figured that second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. will not play again this season.

Chisholm Jr., who last played on June 28 due to what was diagnosed as a lower back stress fracture, had his rehab transferred from Jupiter to Miami earlier this week. But with only 24 games remaining, the Marlins aren’t willing to take the risk of him worsening the injury and jeopardizing his status for 2023.

“It’s something you could say, ‘Well, it’s healed, but is it all the way?’” Mattingly said. “It just doesn’t seem to be worth it. I think Jazz would like to play, he would like to have played. I think the organization basically made that decision for him, that we were going to just let this thing go, keep strengthening all year long, so we know going into the winter that he’s healthy, he’s ready, he’s doing everything, he feels great.”

Chisholm Jr. hit 14 home runs, stole 12 bases and finished with 45 RBI in 60 games. He became only the sixth Marlin to be voted to start the All-Star Game.

▪ Avisail Garcia exited the game after only one inning after experiencing left hamstring discomfort. Charles LeBlanc pinch hit for him in the bottom of the first and Brian Anderson moved over to right field.

Garcia had just come back from a month-long IL stint due to a left hamstring strain and played the previous four games. He went 3 for 16 with all three hits coming in Thursday’s 6-5 win over the Phillies.

Mattingly said the team planned to have Garcia rest on Sunday even before the setback and hopes he will be able to avoid another extended absence.