Jeff McNeil and Brandon Nimmo both crushed homers with an exit velocity of 107.7 mph in the fourth inning to power the Mets to a 7-3 win over the Marlins Friday night in Citi Field. The Mets have now scored 26 runs in their last four games after being held to one run in the three games that came previously.
The Mets scratched out a run in the bottom of the first, with Nimmo reaching second on a throwing error and J.D. Martinez driving him home with a single to left. It was an aggressive send, one that paid off thanks to a weak throw, which allowed Nimmo to score with a head-first slide.
After the Marlins took the lead in the top of the fourth, the Mets erupted in their half of the frame. Francisco Alvarez drew a one-out walk and scored on McNeil’s blast, which put the Mets up one. Harrison Bader followed with a walk and scored on a triple by Francisco Lindor, a hard-hit ball that got by the first baseman and went all the way to the wall in the corner.
The Marlins went to the pen and the first hitter to face the new pitcher was Mark Vientos, who was hit by a pitch. Nimmo followed with his homer, an upper-deck shot to right. It was his first HR since the All-Star break and it broke an 0-17 stretch for him.
Sean Manaea started and got the win, raising his record to 9-5 on the year. He finished the sixth inning just over 90 pitches and Carlos Mendoza sent him out for the seventh. Manaea had a 1-2-3 frame and finished the night with 7 IP, 3 ER, 1 BB and 4 Ks. It’s the fifth time this year Manaea has pitched seven innings and the third time in his last four starts.
Jose Butto closed the game out, giving the pen an easy night after having to give five innings on Thursday.
The Mets will look to take the series on Saturday, a 4:10 p.m. start. This is the final series of the year against the Marlins and if the Mets win either tomorrow or Sunday, they’ll have won the season series against the team that allegedly always plays them tough for the seventh consecutive year and the 10th time in 11 seasons.
The Braves lost to the Angels, the Padres lost to the Rockies, and the Rays scored four times in the last two innings to beat the DBacks 5-4. That’s three teams with losing records taking out all three wild card holders. These teams are bound to come back to Earth and the Mets can take advantage. Only 4.5 games behind the top wild card, breaking out now before the Mets go visit them could have the Mets vault them before September. Plus, the Mariners haven’t won a game since they swept the Mets. Hoping that the pitching can also come around, I see Senger is due to face live hitters soon. Hurry back Kodai!
*Senga is due to face live hitters.
My phone sucks.
Met bats are feast or famine for sure. Feast is sorely needed and feast they did last night, although the feasting basically came down to two swings. Today they get another shot at a starter with a five plus ERA…no excuses.
Anecdotally, Pete Alonso has to be at or near the top of MLB with strikeouts in a swinging strike on a pitch out of the zone.
Gut Reaction: Manaea again had a quality start. Length in a start allowed a manager to set his bullpen. Manaea is having a solid year.
McNeil continues his power surge. I enjoyed the hitting discussion with Murphy and Hernandez in the booth. It was very informative.
Maybe Severino will pitch well and we will take the series this afternoon.
Two walks by Mets pitchers was certainly a welcome sight. Hoping Manaea does not opt out. Another nice outing by Butto. Nice explosion of hitting but no runs after the fourth inning. One game behind the Braves for the last WC spot.
Oh he’ll opt out,will Stearns sign him to a two year contract?