Paul Blackburn shines in Mets' loss to Marlins

Paul Blackburn showcased a strong performance on Sunday, allowing just one earned run over six innings against the Miami Marlins, although he ended up with a no-decision in the New York Mets' 3-2 loss at Citi Field. This outing marked a return to form for Blackburn, who had previously excelled in his first two starts with the Mets after being acquired from Oakland at the trade deadline. In three of his four starts, he has consistently pitched six innings while yielding only one earned run, with a notable exception being a rough outing against the Athletics where he allowed six earned runs in just four innings. Blackburn credited his success to catcher Luis Torrens, who was unfamiliar with him prior to the game. The pitcher expressed confidence in his curveball, which he felt comfortable with during warm-ups and early in the game. Meanwhile, Starling Marte made his return to the lineup, going 1-for-3 in his first game since June 22 due to a bone bruise in his right knee. However, Marte was substituted before the seventh inning, indicating a strategic decision by manager Carlos Mendoza regarding player utilization, particularly considering Marte's earlier defensive struggles. Marte expressed his eagerness to contribute aggressively on the bases, stating he feels good and is ready to make an impact. In a roster move to accommodate Marte's return, Ben Gamel was designated for assignment. Additionally, Dedniel Nunez is set to make his minor league rehab debut on Tuesday after recovering from a right pronator strain.