MIAMI - Aaron Heilman issued a bases-loaded walk to Josh Willingham in the ninth inning as the sputtering New York Mets' bullpen failed again in a 4-3 loss to the Florida Marlins on Saturday night.

Mike Pelfrey worked 6 2-3 solid innings before handing a 3-2 lead to the bullpen, which has blown 11 of 26 save opportunities since the All-Star break and is second in the NL with 24 blown saves overall.

Duaner Sanchez gave up a tying homer to Mike Jacobs in the eighth, setting the stage for Heilman's collapse in the ninth.

New York's NL East lead was trimmed to one game by Philadelphia, which beat the Chicago Cubs 5-2 on Saturday.

The Marlins avoided slipping to .500 for the first time since they were 3-3. On Sunday, they'll try for their first two-game winning streak this month.

Heilman (3-8) started the ninth by walking Hanley Ramirez, who advanced on a sacrifice and took third on a wild pitch. Jorge Cantu and Mike Jacobs were intentionally walked to load the bases, and Willingham earned a game-ending walk when he took a 3-1 pitch that was inside.

Matt Lindstrom (2-2) retired Damion Easley and Jose Reyes with a runner on second to end the top of the ninth.

David Wright hit a two-run homer for the Mets, his 26th.

Pelfrey was seeking his third consecutive complete game but left with two on in the seventh. Sanchez struck out Cantu to end the inning but gave up Jacobs' 27th homer leading off the eighth.

Florida's Ricky Nolasco struck out eight but gave up three runs in six innings.

The teams cleared the benches in the second inning after Pelfrey hit Cody Ross on the arm with a pitch.

Marlins 4

Mets 3