MIAMI (AP) - New York Mets closer Frank Francisco stomped from the mound to the plate, screaming and waving his index finger at umpire Todd Tichenor.

When the tirade ended, the Mets' ninth-inning meltdown continued.

Giancarlo Stanton hit a two-out grand slam to cap a rally Sunday by the Miami Marlins, who scored six times in the ninth to beat an angry Francisco and the Mets 8-4.

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``Any time you see the other team lose their cool like that, you know we're in the driver's seat,' Stanton said.

The Marlins trailed 4-2 when Emilio Bonifacio led off the ninth with his second triple of the game against Francisco (1-3). John Buck walked and pinch-hitter Greg Dobbs followed with an RBI single.

Francisco was then replaced, and he headed slowly toward Tichenor, hollering as he approached. The big right-hander was ejected even though he was already out of the game.

Manager Terry Collins stepped between Tichenor and Francisco, who waved his finger and then his cap at the ump before finally heading to the dugout.

``I thought I was hitting my spots really good, and I didn't get a call,' Francisco said.

He said he became angry because he asked Tichenor about the location of the pitches called balls, and the umpire didn't answer.

``I expect him to say something, like they are low or high or away. Give me a reason,' Francisco said. ``But he said nothing.'

The reliever said every pitch to Buck was a strike. Buck disagreed.

``We all know I love to swing,' Buck said with a smile. ``I'm not the most patient guy. If I could have, I would have put some wood on it. There was probably one pitch that was questionable.'

All eight Miami runs came against the Mets' bullpen. Francisco's ERA rose to 8.56, and now his status is in question because of a possible suspension or demotion from the closer's role.

``I don't think I should get suspended for that, because I have to be able to express my feelings,' he said.

Collins said he'll wait until Monday to decide whether bullpen assignments should change.

``I'm not going to address that right now,' the manager said. ``The emotions are a little high tonight, and this is not a very good time to be making those kinds of decisions.'

Manny Acosta replaced Francisco, and Jose Reyes' sacrifice fly made the score 4-all. After a popup, Hanley Ramirez walked on a 3-2 pitch and Austin Kearns was hit by a pitch to load the bases.

Stanton then hit the first pitch way over the left-center wall near the animated home run sculpture for his seventh homer.

The walk-off loss was the second in the three-game series for the Mets, who concluded a 4-2 trip.

``We didn't finish the way we were hoping to finish,' Acosta said through a translator. ``It's a little tough to swallow.'

Struggling reliever Heath Bell (2-3) earned the victory even though he gave up two runs in the top of the ninth.

Mets pinch-hitter Justin Turner broke a 2-all tie with a two-out, two-run double off Bell. Turner's hit came after a double by Daniel Murphy and a walk to Ronny Cedeno.

Mets starter Jonathon Niese pitched six innings despite an illness, and he departed for a pinch-hitter with a 2-0 lead.

``I had flu symptoms,' he said. ``I had kind of a runny nose with a sore throat and body aches. I just had to fight through it.'

The lead lasted for only two batters when Ramon Ramirez replaced him. Bonifacio led off the seventh with a stand-up triple, and Buck followed with his fourth homer.

New York's David Wright went 1 for 3 and finished the series 8 for 14, which left his NL-leading average at 400. He also made three nifty plays at third base, including a reflex grab to rob Hanley Ramirez of a hit.

Niese stranded four runners in scoring position and benefited from two double plays, but he remained winless in his past five starts.

NOTES: Mets 1B Ike Davis was scratched from the starting lineup with flulike symptoms. He pinch-hit and grounded out to end the seventh with runners at second and third. ... Mets RHP R.A. Dickey said he felt fine one day after being hit on his right wrist by a pitch. He threw another two innings after being hit and earned his fifth victory. ... When Wright singled in the fourth, he improved to .154 lifetime against Carlos Zambrano (4 for 26) with 12 strikeouts. ... The retractable roof was closed for all three games in the series.