NEW YORK (AP) — MJ Melendez hit a two-run homer in the 10th inning to give the New York Mets a 9-7 victory over the Miami Marlins after squandering a four-run lead Friday night.
Mark Vientos launched a 445-foot homer for the last-place Mets, who have won two in a row following a five-game slide.
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Former New York Mets manager Bobby Valentine, left, poses with Mr. Met after throwing out a ceremonial first pitch before a baseball game between the Mets and the Miami Marlins, Friday, May 29, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith)
Miami Marlins pitcher Max Meyer throws during the second inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets, Friday, May 29, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith)
New York Mets' Mark Vientos (27) hits a home run during the third inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins Friday, May 29, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith)
New York Mets' MJ Melendez reacts with teammates after hitting a walk off two run home run leading Vidal Bruján to score during the 10th inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins Friday, May 29, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith)
New York Mets' MJ Melendez reacts after hitting a walkoff two-run home run during the 10th inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Friday, May 29, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith)
A.J. Ewing and Brett Baty each had a two-run single in the first against unbeaten Max Meyer, who blanked New York on one hit over seven innings last weekend in Miami to help the Marlins earn a three-game sweep.
Melendez came off the bench as a pinch hitter in the seventh and supplied a sacrifice fly that extended New York's lead to 7-5. Owen Caissie tied it with a two-run homer off Tobias Myers in the eighth.
With one out in the 10th, Melendez fell behind 0-2 in the count before lofting a 98 mph fastball from Pete Fairbanks (2-3) into the second deck in right field just inside the foul pole.
Pinch-runner Vidal Bruján, the automatic runner at second base, scored ahead of a fired-up Melendez, who flipped his bat when the ball stayed fair and gestured excitedly toward the New York dugout on Fireworks Night at Citi Field.
It was his first game-ending hit in the majors and the fifth walk-off victory this year for the Mets (24-33), who are 7-4 in extra innings.
Austin Warren (1-1) worked a perfect inning for the win.
Mets starter Freddy Peralta was handed leads of 4-0, 5-1 and 6-2 in the opener of a three-game series, but he allowed four runs — two earned — and seven hits in 4 2/3 innings.
Kyle Stowers had three hits for Miami, including an RBI double. Meyer lasted six innings despite giving up six runs, five earned, and six hits.
Marlins RHP Tyler Phillips (0-0, 1.07 ERA) makes his 17th appearance and second start this season Saturday against Mets RHP Christian Scott (0-0, 3.20), still seeking his first major league win in his 16th career start.
Before the game, New York will induct former manager Bobby Valentine and outfielder Lee Mazzilli into the team's Hall of Fame during a ceremony at Citi Field.
This story includes a correction to Tyler Phillips' record in the Up next section.
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
Former New York Mets manager Bobby Valentine, left, poses with Mr. Met after throwing out a ceremonial first pitch before a baseball game between the Mets and the Miami Marlins, Friday, May 29, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith)
Miami Marlins pitcher Max Meyer throws during the second inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets, Friday, May 29, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith)
New York Mets' Mark Vientos (27) hits a home run during the third inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins Friday, May 29, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith)
New York Mets' MJ Melendez reacts with teammates after hitting a walk off two run home run leading Vidal Bruján to score during the 10th inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins Friday, May 29, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith)
New York Mets' MJ Melendez reacts after hitting a walkoff two-run home run during the 10th inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Friday, May 29, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith)
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Democrats were in a more celebratory mood than usual as they gathered Friday in South Carolina, a state led almost entirely by Republicans.
Just days ago, the Republican-led state Senate shot down an effort backed by President Donald Trump to redraw the House map to oust Rep. Jim Clyburn, South Carolina's only congressional Democrat and a party powerbroker who has been in office since 1993.
With his district still intact, Clyburn spent Friday night hosting his signature event, the “World Famous Fish Fry,” which followed the Blue Palmetto Dinner, an annual Democratic fundraiser.
"You have delivered for the people of this state and this nation in an unbelievable way,” Clyburn told a sold-out crowd at the dinner as hundreds of attendees burst into thunderous applause.
The back-to-back events often showcase potential presidential contenders. Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear spoke at the dinner, and he paid tribute to Clyburn.
“I am so proud to be here with the one and only Jim Clyburn, the man so strong that South Carolina Republicans said, ‘no thanks’ to Donald Trump on redistricting,” he said.
Beshear and California Rep. Ro Khanna joined Clyburn at the fish fry as well, where thousands chowed down on hot fried fish and sipped cold drinks.
Democratic candidates from around the state wore blue “Clyburn for Congress” T-shirts as they pitched themselves to the crowd, a political ritual that showcases his influence in South Carolina. He's running for his 18th term this year.
South Carolina's primary is June 9. Voters will choose nominees for governor, U.S. Senate and U.S. House. Had Republicans in the state Senate not rejected the plan pushed by the White House, those congressional votes would have been canceled and a new primary scheduled under revised districts.
The state Senate vote on redistricting failed Tuesday, the first day of early voting, with some senators saying it was simply too late to change district lines.
Clyburn, who is Black, condemned the White House-led effort, which he said had been aimed at “zeroing Democratic voters, zeroing African American voters out of the process.”
“I know the state, and I am embarrassed that so many people in our legislature will allow strangers in Washington to tell them what to do, when to do it and how to do it,” Clyburn said as he cast his vote in Orangeburg on Tuesday.
The political drama in South Carolina is part of a Republican strategy to redraw voting districts to the party's advantage in an attempt to hold on to a slim House majority in the midterms. Republicans have moved quickly to try to leverage a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling that weakened the federal Voting Rights Act.
At least for now, Clyburn's 6th congressional district has been preserved, as has his place as the Democrat to whom White House hopefuls look for guidance in navigating the state's electorate.
During the 2020 primary, Clyburn provided a crucial endorsement to Joe Biden, helping him demonstrate strength among Black voters and catapulting him to the Democratic nomination. On Friday night, Clyburn told reporters he was “open” to endorsing a presidential candidate in 2028.
But Clyburn, among the oldest Democrats serving in Washington, has called it an “open question” as to whether his next term could be his last. Whenever he leaves office, the Democratic field looking to replace him is anticipated to be massive.
The conclusion of November's midterm elections will mark the unofficial start to a 2028 presidential primary season. Although the order of states for Democrats' primaries won't be set for months, the battle for attention has already begun in a variety of places that could play a pivotal role.
On Thursday, Democratic chairs in five southern states wrote a letter to Democratic National Committee officials urging them to again pick South Carolina to go first.
However, party leaders here have braced for a different spot on the calendar, saying they wouldn't see it as a loss if another state got the leadoff spot.
Meg Kinnard can be reached at http://x.com/MegKinnardAP
Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear of Kentucky, center, speaks to reporters as U.S. Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., and U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn, D-S.C., look on, ahead of remarks at Clyburn's "World Famous Fish Fry" event on Friday, May 29, 2026, in Columbia S.C. (AP Photo/Meg Kinnard)
U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn, D-S.C., left, speaks to attendees at his "World Famous Fish Fry" as U.S. Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., and Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear of Kentucky look on, on Friday, May 29, 2026, in Columbia S.C. (AP Photo/Meg Kinnard)
Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear of Kentucky speaks to attendees at the South Carolina Democratic Party's Blue Palmetto Dinner on Friday, May 29, 2026, in Columbia S.C. (AP Photo/Meg Kinnard)
U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn, D-S.C., speaks to attendees at the South Carolina Democratic Party's Blue Palmetto Dinner on Friday, May 29, 2026, in Columbia S.C. (AP Photo/Meg Kinnard)
U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn, D-S.C., speaks to reporters ahead of remarks at his "World Famous Fish Fry" event on Friday, May 29, 2026, in Columbia S.C. (AP Photo/Meg Kinnard)
FILE - Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear attends the National Action Network (NAN) Convention in New York, April 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Angelina Katsanis, File)
FILE - Rep. Jim Clyburn, D-S.C., speaks to attendees at his World Famous Fish Fry, May 30, 2025, in Columbia, S.C. (AP Photo/Meg Kinnard, File)
