MIAMI (AP) -- The Miami Marlins are no longer baseball's best home team. In fact, on their latest homestand they were downright bad.

Jonathon Niese
Jonathon Niese (Rob Foldy/Getty Images)
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Rookie Anthony DeSclafani lasted only 3 2-3 innings and Miami allowed season-high totals in runs and hits Sunday while losing to the New York Mets 11-5.

Ten days ago the Marlins had the best home record in the majors, but they went 3-7 on their longest homestand of the year, losing all three series. As a result, Miami (37-38) fell below .500 for the first time since April 30.

"You just have to keeping grinding and stay positive," first baseman Garrett Jones said. "It's a long season. Every team runs into this type of thing where the offense isn't clicking and the pitching isn't clicking."

Offense was the biggest problem for most of the homestand. With runners in scoring position the Marlins went 13 for 79 (.165).

But pitching was Miami's downfall on Sunday. DeSclafani (1-2), making his fourth major league start, put the Marlins behind 7-0 and departed with a 7.59 ERA.

The right-hander was unable to keep the ball down or throw breaking pitches for strikes.

"I fell behind hitters, and the fastballs were flying up in the zone," he said. "When that happens, you're not going to get the results you want."

Daniel Murphy hit a three-run homer and the Mets matched a season high with 17 hits to help Jonathon Niese (4-4) win for the first time since May 22. He allowed less than four earned runs for the 19th consecutive start, giving up three in six innings.

Niese drove in a run with a suicide squeeze bunt, but the bulk of the offense came from higher in the order. David Wright drove in a run for the sixth game in a row.

Murphy had two hits, including his sixth homer. Kirk Nieuwenhuis, making his first start since being recalled from Triple-A, doubled twice off DeSclafani, who gave up seven hits.

"I'm sure he wishes he had a couple of them back that he left in the middle of the plate," Collins said.

Curtis Granderson thrived again in the Mets' leadoff spot, reaching base four consecutive times. He and Lucas Duda each had three hits.

"You look at the box score from today and there's way too many big numbers," Marlins manager Mike Redmond said. "Giving up twos and threes and fours in innings, that just crushes you. We have to do a better job of eliminating the big innings."

The Mets had scored a total of 13 runs in Niese's previous five starts, but he led 7-0 before giving up three runs in the sixth. The left-hander then struck out Derek Dietrich with the bases loaded to end the inning and his afternoon.

Miami's Giancarlo Stanton, who has an NL-high 58 RBIs, drove in a run with something other than a homer for the first time in a month when he singled home a run in the sixth.

Dietrich had a double for one of Miami's eight hits. He was recalled from Triple-A New Orleans before the game to replace Rafael Furcal, who went on the disabled list after he re-injured his left hamstring.

NOTES: Marlins SS Adeiny Hechavarria (elbow) sat out his second game in a row but was feeling better available to pinch-hit. ... Marlins Spanish-language radio announcer Felo Ramirez celebrated his 91st birthday. ... The Mets improved to 16-11 in day games. ... The game drew a crowd of 24,613, plus 605 dogs on "Bark in the Park" day. ... The Marlins begin a four-game series at Philadelphia on Monday when RHP Nathan Eovaldi (4-3, 3.76) pitches against RHP Roberto Hernandez (3-5, 4.52).

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