NEW YORK, Sept. 3 (UPI) -- With closer Armando Benitez on the mound and three outs to go, it looked like the New York Mets were on their way Tuesday night to avoiding a record-setting 15th straight home loss but former Met Preston Wilson had other ideas.
Wilson led off the ninth inning with the tying homer and the Florida Marlins took advantage of a throwing error in the 12th to edge the Mets, 3-2, in the opener of a doubleheader.
Derrek Lee led off the 12th with a single, took second on a wild pitch and went to third when catcher Vance Wilson's throw was off the mark. Juan Encarnacion followed with a ground-rules double off Scott Strickland (6-9) to score the go-ahead run.
The loss broke the Boston Rustlers' 91-year-old National League record for consecutive home losses. The St. Louis Browns hold the major league record with 20 in a row in 1953. The Mets have not won at Shea Stadium since July 31.
Braden Looper (1-5) allowed an infield hit in two innings and got the win.
