Mark Vientos hit two of the team’s four home runs, while Jeff McNeil had two outfield assists in the same inning, including one at the plate, as the Mets defeated the Marlins, 8-3, Wednesday night in Miami. The victory gave the Mets the series win and upped their record this year versus the Marlins to 7-3.
Vientos gave the Mets the early lead when he homered in the second inning for the game’s first run. The Mets jumped out to a 3-0 lead but the Marlins got one back in the fourth. Vientos’ second blast of the night reinstated the club’s three-run lead. Both balls were hit to left field, with the second one measured at 417 feet.
In his last 17 games, Vientos is batting .306, with 6 XBH, including 5 HR in 66 PA.
Unlike his last outing, Kodai Senga did not have his best stuff. But he battled and turned in another good outing, with 6 IP and 2 ER. His ERA went up a point but he moved into second place in the NL in ERA and earned his 12th win of the year.
McNeil had quite a day in the fifth inning, as he cut off a ball before it got to the wall and gunned out a runner at second base. Then, after catching a fly ball in shallow right, he fired a one-hop strike to the plate for the final out of the inning.
Brett Baty got his first homer in the majors in two months, with a monster HR to right that checked in at 440 feet in the eighth inning. And Brandon Nimmo capped the HR fest with a solo shot in the ninth, his 24th homer of the year. It was part of a three-hit game for Nimmo, who also had a double and a walk on the night.
Baty had the “swing hard in case you hit it” kind of night. I still believe in the kid. Read an article the other day that his problem is that he leads with the bat handle and while that gives him power the other way, it slows the bat speed and drags through the zone. Supposedly, it can’t be fixed during the season.
When is Nimmo going to bat third? The Mets best lineup has McNeil, Mauricio, Nimmo, Lindor as the first four. Then Alonso, Stewart, Alvarez, Vientos and Baty.
Big night for the Baby Mets. Another strong performance by Senga who goes to 12-7 with an under 3 ERA. McNeil goes hitless but makes two unbelievable plays in RF. Still like Nimmo in the lead off spot but he’d be driving in runs batting 3rd. Got to love Mauricio’s play from his fielding, to still hitting .300 since his call up and his 6 stolen bags is a nice glimpse into the future. Shame on Eppler for not bringing him up in June when he was mashing and the Mets sucked. Instead we suffered with Vogelbach as the LH DH. A ten game swing and we are tied for the second wildcard spot. Lots of potential going into next year and with a few additions we are back in the mix.
I like the lineup….. L,S,L,S,R,L,R,R,L. Now comes the positions they would play, and which would you prefer as the DH? Some would consider switching Vientos and Baty to get the best L/R balance, but as of now, Vientos is the better hitter. I also think that our Brian would keep Nimmo in the lead off spot, rather then McNeil. But I don’t see “Squirrel” being a #3 hitter.
Anyways, a great defensive game for McNeil in particular wasn’t it?
I follow your thinking on the lineup. You’re right about the switch in the last two.
Love what I saw last night with the Baby Mets! I could see Cohen signing 28-year-old Bellinger or 29 year-old Ohtani, but the main spending has to be on pitching. But I could do without either of them and we might have this contending team, I think:
INF: 1B Alonso, 2B Mauricio, SS Lindor, 3B Baty (tentative)
OF: LF McNeil, CFNimmo, RF Marte
C: Alvarez, Navarez
DH/Utility: Stewart, Vientos
Also: Pham, Mendick
SP: Senga, Yamamoto, Quintana, Montgomery, Butto/Lucchesi/Megill/Peterson/Scott…..
RP: Diaz, Ottavino, Raley, Smith, Gott, Joe Jimenez, Jose Leclerc, and one of the above SPs as long man.
Gut Reaction: Senga has established himself as a top 10 starter in the NL. Maybe Vientos has figured out Major League pitching. He is on a good run. I hope he continues it throughout the end of the season. The Mets could use a power RHB on the bench in 2024.
Gary Cohen mentioned McNeil for the Utility Golden Glove Award. He is a very good corner outfielder and second baseman.
I’m glad they fried the fish !