Queens, NY—For the second straight win of the Marlins over the Mets, home runs figured prominently. On Friday’s 4-3 victory, infielder Justin Bour blasted a three run homer. The game winning run was later driven in by last year’s Yankee second sacker Martin Prado.
The second game of the series on Saturday was a 9-5 Miami win that featured a 14 hit attack that included four home runs in a similar offensive scenario as the day before.
Mets starter Jon Niese gave up five runs, four earned on seven hits in four innings. The game was the fourth in which Niese surrendered at least four earned runs. He has won only one of his last seven starts.
Three of the four runs off him were driven in by four baggers. Giancarlo Stanton took a 1-1 pitch over the fence in center in the third. After the game the 25 year old remarked, “I just wanted to see something I could drive.” In the following frame, J. T. Realmuto hit the first pitch for a two-run homer.
Two runs that protected the 7-5 lead were scored in the ninth by the first back-to-back home runs hit by the Marlins this year. Stanton hit a bomb that was one of the longest home runs in the history of Citi Field, his 15th of the season and fifth off the Mets. He has 21 career homers against the new Yorkers. Manager Dan Jennings said of the slugger, “He’s capable of putting us on his back.”
As in the previous game, a single was the game winning hit that broke a 5-5 tie. Christian Yelich singled with the bases filled in the seventh and knocked in the deciding runs.
The heavy hitting prompted the manager/general manager to state, “Those guys had their hitting shoes on.”
The offense was strongly supported by the marlins bullpen. The six Miami relievers held the Mets scoreless for 5.2 innings. They only allowed two hits and issued two walks while fanning five. Jennings called the performance “a tremendous, tremendous job.”
A.L. Ramos recorded his fourth save, a four out save, in his fourth save attempt. His bullpen colleague, Carter Capps said of Ramos, “He’s definitely setting the tone and we’re trying to follow.”
Veteran Bartolo Colon will attempt to prevent a Miami sweep in the final contest on Sunday. Former Yankee David Phelps will start for the Marlins.