Mets Get Gem From deGrom, Beat Marlins For 7th Straight Win
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NEW YORK (AP) – Jacob deGrom pitched seven shutout innings, and the New York Mets got home runs from Travis d'Arnaud and Wilmer Flores to beat the slumping Miami Marlins 5-4 Saturday night for their seventh consecutive victory.
Juan Lagares and Eric Campbell each had an RBI single to help the Mets (9-3) open their home schedule with six wins in a row, equaling the club record set in 1985. The overall winning streak is New York's longest since an eight-game run in June 2010.
The fast start has caught on quickly with fans of a team that's endured six consecutive losing seasons since moving into Citi Field. The attendance of 41,844 on Fireworks Night marked the Mets' second sellout - and those two crowds over 40,000 matched last year's total.
All-Star ace Matt Harvey will be on the mound Sunday, when New York goes for a four-game sweep of its NL East rival.
Dee Gordon went 5 for 5 with three RBIs for the Marlins, who lost their third straight and dropped to 3-9. They held a players-only meeting before batting practice in the wake of comments from Giancarlo Stanton that raised eyebrows the night before.
"We have a positive vibe but the fire is not there, it seems like," Stanton said.
The $325 million slugger was 0 for 4 with three strikeouts Saturday, yet Miami rallied for three runs in the ninth off Carlos Torres. With closer Jeurys Familia unavailable for the Mets, the Marlins got a leadoff homer from Michael Morse and a two-run single from Gordon that made it 5-4.
Alex Torres, wearing his new padded cap to protect his head, struck out Christian Yelich with a runner aboard for his first major league save.
Yelich, who fanned four times, watched his bat slip out of his hands and sail several feet beyond first base.
Mat Latos (0-3) was much better in his third start for Miami, but was lifted for a pinch hitter down 2-0 in the sixth.
On the other side, deGrom (2-1) struck out eight and walked none in his second consecutive scoreless outing. He gave up six hits in his first game against Miami since tying a big league record by whiffing the first eight Marlins batters last Sept. 15 at Citi Field.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Marlins: Slumping catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia was back in the lineup after three days off, a break the Marlins hoped would help get him going. Saltalamacchia went 0 for 3 with a strikeout, leaving him 2 for 25 (.080) with 12 Ks this season. Manager Mike Redmond said rookie J.T. Realmuto will start behind the plate Sunday afternoon. ... RHP Jose Fernandez (Tommy John surgery) was transferred to the 60-day DL when Miami claimed LHP Matt Tracy off waivers from the New York Yankees. Tracy will report to Triple-A New Orleans.
Mets: LHP Jerry Blevins also was unavailable due to a heavy workload lately, manager Terry Collins said. ... RHP Vic Black (shoulder tendinitis) was promoted to Double-A Binghamton on his rehab assignment and threw a scoreless inning against Harrisburg. He has not pitched on consecutive days yet, a hurdle he needs to clear before coming off the disabled list. ... Torres wears an MLB-approved padded cap to protect his head when he pitches, and this year's new model arrived Saturday. The padding now wraps around the outside of the hat and sits on the brim in front, with a velcro cinch in the back. Torres said it feels a little different than the one he used with San Diego last season, when he was the only big league player to wear one.
UP NEXT
Marlins: Tom Koehler (1-1) estimated he might have about 50 fans on hand when he pitches Sunday. Koehler was born in the Bronx and went to New Rochelle High School nearby before attending Stony Brook University on Long Island. He is 1-3 with a 2.67 ERA in 12 games against the Mets, including nine starts.
Mets: Harvey tries to begin the season 3-0 in his return from Tommy John surgery. He is 0-1 with a 3.52 ERA in four starts against Miami. ... The Mets are 4-0 in day games.
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