The Marlins defeated the Mets 2-1 in their spring training opener as Robby Snelling tossed a perfect inning against Semien, Soto, and Bichette.
The Miami Marlins opened their 2026 Grapefruit League slate with a crisp 2-1 win over the New York Mets on Saturday afternoon at Clover Park, riding a perfect first inning from top pitching prospect Robby Snelling and a late bullpen lockdown to secure the victory.
Linescore
W: Tyler Phillips (1-0) L: Carl Edwards Jr. (0-1) S: Stephen Jones (1)
Snelling Sets the Tone
Snelling, Miami’s No. 39 overall prospect per MLB Pipeline, drew the start and immediately faced a daunting trio: Marcus Semien, Juan Soto, and Bo Bichette. The 22-year-old left-hander showed no signs of nerves, retiring all three in order during a perfect first inning.
Snelling attacked the zone with confidence, mixing velocity and command as he overpowered Semien, kept Soto off balance, and induced soft contact from Bichette. After just one efficient inning, he headed to the bullpen for additional work, finishing his afternoon on a high note.
“I think that today was a good example of what I can do,” Snelling said postgame, calling the outing a confidence builder against elite competition.
Ryan Gusto followed with a scoreless second, and Miami’s bullpen carried the momentum from there.
Marlins Strike First
Miami pushed across its first run in the fourth inning, capitalizing on a defensive miscue by New York. Connor Norby reached on a missed catch error by first baseman Jose Rojas on a throw from third baseman Bo Bichette, allowing Jacob Marsee to score the game’s first run. Griffin Conine advanced to third on the play as the Mets failed to convert what could have been an inning-ending out.
The Marlins added to the lead moments later when Christopher Morel lifted a sacrifice fly to center field. A.J. Ewing made the catch, but Marsee tagged and scored, extending Miami’s advantage to 2-0.
Although the Marlins managed just two hits on the afternoon, they took advantage of New York’s defensive lapse and executed situational baseball to manufacture both runs.
Mets Rally Falls Short
The Mets scratched across a run in the eighth inning on a sacrifice fly by center fielder Blake Ewing, trimming the deficit to 2-1. New York had opportunities, stranding five runners and going 0-for-3 with runners in scoring position.
Stephen Jones entered in the ninth and slammed the door, striking out two while working around a hit to earn the save. Villavicencio was thrown out attempting to steal second for the final out, sealing Miami’s opening-day victory.
Bullpen Depth on Display
Tyler Phillips earned the win with a clean third inning, and Miami’s relief corps combined for nine strikeouts over nine innings. Despite one error by Connor Norby, the defense largely supported a pitching staff that limited the Mets to just two hits.
For a club entering camp with rotation depth that includes Sandy Alcantara, Eury Pérez, and Max Meyer, Saturday’s performance underscored the next wave of arms pushing for opportunity.
The Marlins are now 1-0 this spring and will continue Grapefruit League play Sunday as competition for roster spots intensifies.
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