APLinden’s second hit brought Cabrera home to cut the margin to 6-4, and Jason Wood singled two batters later. Jacobs scored easily and third-base coach Bo Porter waved Linden around, but Alou threw out Linden to preserve the lead.
“Our bullpen obviously didn’t do so well at different times,” Randolph said.
Heilman escaped when Hanley Ramirez lined out to third with two runners on, and it was still 6-5 when Wagner — who had pitched only once since Sept. 14 because of back spasms — was summoned in the ninth to protect the one-run lead.
It didn’t last. Uggla hit his 31st homer to tie the game and give Wagner his fifth blown save in 39 chances.
“It’s the first time that I can remember putting a ball in play against him,” Uggla said.
Florida opened the scoring in the third on Hermida’s two-run single. The Mets tied it a half-inning later on Paul Lo Duca’s two-run homer.
Florida went up 3-2 in the sixth on Linden’s RBI single, but the inning could have been worse for the Mets. Center fielder Carlos Beltran — who bruised his knee Friday — caught Alejandro De Aza’s drive for the third out as he hit the wall in left-center.
“Saved the game today,” Mets general manager Omar Minaya said.
Notes: Mets starter John Maine gave up three earned runs in five-plus innings, matching a career best with nine strikeouts. ... Marlins LHP Dontrelle Willis presented the family of slain Broward County Sheriff’s Sgt. Chris Reyka a check for $10,500 before the game. Reyka was killed on duty Aug. 10.
SportsTalk: Albert Pujols signs with the Angels and Prince Fielder joins the Tigers. Which team is better now?
DeMarco: Plug in a well-heeled ownership group and negotiate one of those mega-bucks TV deals that are going around, and the Dodgers could become the west coast version of the New York Yankees or Boston Red Sox.
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