The Mets’ 4-2 lead evaporated in a disastrous seventh inning, as defensive miscues and bullpen struggles allowed the Marlins to score five runs and steal a 7-4 victory.

The New York Mets entered Thursday night’s game at Citi Field riding a wave of confidence, winners of six of their last eight and inching closer in the National League wild card race.

But in a contest that underscored their season-long struggles with consistency, one disastrous inning against the Miami Marlins proved enough to undo all momentum.

In front of over 31,000 fans in Queens, the Mets squandered a lead and collapsed in the seventh inning, falling 7-4 in a loss that could loom large in the standings come September.

The Mets carried a 4-2 lead into the top of the seventh, seemingly in control after starter José Quintana gave them a solid six innings of work.

The veteran lefty scattered six hits, striking out five while walking only one, handing the ball to the bullpen with a cushion. But as has been the case far too often in 2025, the relief corps faltered in stunning fashion.

Setup man Reed Garrett entered and immediately ran into trouble. A leadoff single by Bryan De La Cruz was followed by a four-pitch walk to Jazz Chisholm Jr., putting two runners aboard with no outs.

Garrett appeared rattled, bouncing a slider in the dirt that catcher Francisco Alvarez struggled to block, allowing the runners to advance.

Moments later, Jake Burger ripped a sharp grounder that should have been a routine play, but third baseman Brett Baty bobbled the ball, loading the bases.

From there, the meltdown was on. A sacrifice fly by Jesús Sánchez cut the lead to 4-3.

Garrett then induced what should have been an inning-ending double play, but shortstop Francisco Lindor’s throw sailed wide of first baseman Pete Alonso, bringing in two more runs and giving the Marlins a 5-4 advantage.

“That one’s on me,” Lindor admitted afterward in the clubhouse. “We practice that play every day, and I didn’t get it done. That hurts because José \[Quintana] pitched his heart out tonight.”

Manager Carlos Mendoza turned to right-hander Adam Ottavino to stop the bleeding, but the Marlins tacked on two more runs with a Deivi García single to right that split the gap.

By the time the inning ended, Miami had sent nine men to the plate, scored five runs (three unearned), and taken a 7-4 lead that silenced a restless Citi Field crowd.

“We just gave them extra outs, and at this level, you can’t do that,” Mendoza said afterward. “That’s been the story in too many of our losses this year. You play six good innings, and then one inning where you don’t execute, and it flips the game.”

The Mets tried to mount a rally in the late innings but couldn’t break through against the Marlins’ bullpen.

Miami starter Trevor Rogers battled command issues early, walking four across five innings, but he limited the damage to keep his team close. Tanner Scott, the Marlins’ closer, slammed the door in the ninth with a clean inning for his 24th save of the season.

For the Mets, the defeat was a frustrating reminder of their fragile position in the playoff hunt. Entering the night, they were just one game back of the final wild card spot, with the Cubs and Diamondbacks also in the mix.

A win would have nudged them into position to leapfrog the Giants over the weekend. Instead, they left the ballpark shaking their heads over defensive miscues and a bullpen implosion.

“We’ve shown what we’re capable of the last two weeks,” Alonso said postgame, visibly upset. “But we have to be honest with ourselves. If we can’t clean up the mistakes, we’re not going to get where we want to go. You can’t expect to win playing sloppy baseball.”

The loss wasted a rare productive night from the top of the lineup. Lindor, despite his costly error, went 2-for-4 with a two-run double in the third inning.

Brandon Nimmo chipped in with a pair of hits and scored twice, while Alvarez added a solo homer in the fifth that gave New York its brief 4-2 cushion. But the middle of the order faltered late, and Miami capitalized when it mattered most.

The Marlins, for their part, have embraced the spoiler role. At 61-75, they are far removed from contention, but manager Skip Schumaker praised his team’s resilience.

“We talked before the game about playing clean, hard baseball no matter what the standings say,” Schumaker said. “These guys don’t quit, and tonight they took advantage when the Mets gave us an opening.”

The Mets’ bullpen, already a source of angst for much of the season, faces increased scrutiny as the calendar turns to September. Closer Edwin Díaz has been up-and-down in his return from knee surgery, and the bridge arms have failed to provide stability.

Garrett’s rough outing highlighted a larger issue: New York leads the National League in blown saves and unearned runs allowed since the All-Star break.

Fans leaving Citi Field voiced their frustrations, some shouting at players as they walked down the dugout tunnel. One long-time season ticket holder was overheard muttering, “Same old Mets—one step forward, two steps back.”

Yet despite the sting of Thursday’s collapse, the Mets are far from out of the race. With a soft stretch of games ahead against the Pirates and Rockies, they have a chance to rebound quickly. But with the Braves and Phillies looming in mid-September, there is little margin for error.

“We can sit here and dwell on it, or we can come back tomorrow and respond,” Mendoza said. “That’s the only choice we have. We know what’s at stake.”

The Mets will look to bounce back Friday night as rookie right-hander Christian Scott takes the mound, facing Marlins ace Jesús Luzardo. For a team teetering on the edge of the postseason picture, every game now carries the weight of October.

Thursday’s seventh-inning collapse may not define their season, but it served as a harsh reminder: in a playoff chase, one sloppy inning can erase an entire week’s worth of momentum.