Cespedes homers in 10th, Mets top Marlins 2-1 in opener

The Marlins scored just one run in losing the final two games of a three-game series to the Padres.

Miami broke a scoreless tie in the eighth when Ichiro Suzuki and Xavier Scruggs hit consecutive two-out doubles off Addison Reed.

A pair of National League wild card contenders will meet Monday night, when the Mets host the Miami Marlins in the opener of a pivotal four-game series at Citi Field.

Both the Mets and Marlins missed opportunities to gain on the Cardinals on Sunday, when NY lost to the Philadelphia Phillies 5-1 while Miami fell 3-1 to the San Diego Padres.

Double-A call-up and almost forgotten prospect Rafael Montero tossed five shutout innings for the Mets (67-64) in his first major-league start since April 28 of last season, matching hard-earned zeroes with Marlins ace Jose Fernandez. After moving to third on fly out by De Aza, Reyes raced home when A.J. Ramos uncorked a wild pitch.

Rookie left-hander Josh Smoker (1-0) struck out two in a flawless inning for his first major league win. With Cespedes batting, Reyes than scampered home with a headfirst slide on Ramos’ high 0-2 wild pitch to the backstop.

The Mets also will have to see if they have Asdrubal Cabrera tonight as his left knee flared up Sunday and forced him to leave the game early. It appeared Ramos’ knee landed hard on Reyes’ his left hand, before the pitcher also rolled over his neck and head area.

The 42-year-old Suzuki had two hits, increasing his career total to 3,011 and passing Hall of Famer Wade Boggs for 27th place in major league history. That left NY without a healthy backup infielder, because Walker and Cabrera were the only two on the bench. Left-hander Justin Nicolino, who started Sunday and threw 101 pitches in a 3-1 loss to San Diego, was optioned to the Zephyrs.

That is pending the return of Steven Matz (shoulder), expected to come off the disabled list Thursday to start against Miami. Miami is counting on RHP Andrew Cashner (finger blister) starting Friday at Cleveland after he was scratched Sunday. OF Giancarlo Stanton (strained left groin) and LHP Adam Conley (finger tendinitis) both went to a doctor in NY for another opinion, Mattingly said.

Cabrera pinch-hit in the seventh inning on Monday and was fanned for the third out.

“It was one of those games that you don’t expect to go win”, Mets manager Terry Collins said. With usually sturdy right-hander Jacob deGrom being skipped due to his recent struggles – he has allowed 13 runs over 9 2/3 innings in his last two starts – the Mets will promote right-hander Rafael Montero from Double-A Binghamton for Monday’s opener against Marlins ace right-hander Jose Fernandez.

Montero took a circuitous route to five shutout innings, but third baseman Kelly Johnson helped him complete the fifth by stepping on the bag and throwing out Marcel Ozuna for an inning-ending double play.