MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (Interstat) — A six-run fifth inning, capped by Connor Norby’s two-run homer, propelled the Miami Marlins to a 6-2 victory over the New York Mets on Friday night at loanDepot Park.

The Mets struck immediately against Miami starter Sandy Alcantara. Francisco Lindor launched the game’s third pitch for his 31st home run of the season, a solo shot to right-center field. Juan Soto followed with a single, and after a flyout, Pete Alonso drove him in with a ground-ball double down the left-field line to give New York a 2-0 lead before Alcantara could record a third out.

That early outburst was all the offense the Mets would muster. Alcantara (11-12) settled in masterfully, retiring 15 of the final 17 batters he faced after Alonso’s double. The veteran right-hander finished with a line of seven innings pitched, allowing two earned runs on six hits while striking out three and walking one.

“He completely shut us down after the first,“ a Mets spokesperson said of Alcantara’s performance. “We had momentum, and he took it all away.“

Meanwhile, Mets starter Brandon Sproat (0-2) cruised through the first four innings, holding the Marlins to just two hits. The game turned dramatically in the bottom of the fifth. Griffin Conine sparked the rally with a line-drive single, and Troy Johnston followed with a single that sent Conine to third. Heriberto Hernández then cleared the bases, tying the game 2-2 with a triple to right field.

Hernández scored the go-ahead run on a groundout by Jakob Marsee. The Marlins were not done. Agustín Ramírez kept the inning alive with a single, and Xavier Edwards drove him in with another single to center, extending the lead to 4-2. Norby, pinch-hitting for Liam Hicks, then delivered the decisive blow, launching a two-run homer to left field to cap the inning and give Miami a 6-2 advantage.

The Marlins’ bullpen preserved the lead. Cade Gibson recorded two key outs in the eighth inning after the Mets loaded the bases with one out, and Tyler Phillips earned his fourth save of the season by getting the final four outs, including a perfect ninth inning.

The loss dropped the Mets to 82-78 on the season, while the Marlins improved to 78-82. The result flipped the pregame expectations, as the Mets had been installed as a -1.5 run favorite, and statistical models gave them a slight edge to win.

The two teams continue their three-game series to close the regular season on Saturday.