Sports

Stanton Hits 2 Homers, Marlins Tag Niese And Beat Mets 9-5

May 30, 2015 / 9:57 PM EDT / CBS Miami

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NEW YORK (AP) – Giancarlo Stanton hit one laser of a line drive barely high enough to clear the fence, and later a colossal clout that soared deep into the second deck at Citi Field.

So in the clubhouse afterward, one reporter opened with a tongue-in-cheek question: Must have been aided by that gusting wind, huh?

"Yeah," the chiseled slugger deadpanned.

Stanton homered twice and Christian Yelich snapped a seventh-inning tie with a two-run single, sending the Miami Marlins to a 9-5 victory over the New York Mets on Saturday.

J.T. Realmuto and Jeff Baker also went deep as Miami dinged a struggling Jonathon Niese, who lasted only four innings.

"Just an outstanding ballgame with everybody. Everybody contributed in a big way, picked each other up," Miami manager Dan Jennings said. "That's how you build a team."

The Marlins had lost 14 of 17 before taking the first two games of this series, giving them four straight wins against the NL East rival Mets after dropping the first five meetings this season.

Six members of Miami's maligned bullpen combined for 5 2-3 shutout innings of two-hit ball, and the Marlins won consecutive road games for the first time since April 22-23.

"We were able to shut it down," said reliever Carter Capps, who hit 100 mph on the stadium radar gun. "We've got a bunch of hard-nosed guys down there and they're going to compete."

Ruben Tejada hit a three-run double for New York, which fell to 20-8 at home and 12-5 in day games.

Stanton launched his 15th homer in the ninth an estimated 455 feet to left-center. Baker connected on the next pitch from Alex Torres, giving the Marlins back-to-back homers for the first time this year.

It was Stanton's 15th multihomer game and second this season. He has five home runs against the Mets this year.

"I wish I could tell you we haven't seen him like this before, but we have," manager Terry Collins said. "There's nobody with more power in all of baseball."

Mike Dunn (1-3) escaped a sixth-inning jam by striking out Lucas Duda and retiring Daniel Murphy with runners at the corners.

A.J. Ramos got four outs for his fourth save in as many chances since taking over as closer.

Donovan Solano hit an early two-run double off Niese, and Stanton lined a sizzling shot to right-center in the third.

"I didn't think that was gone off the bat. I had to watch the trajectory a little bit," he said.

Realmuto added a two-run drive in the fourth for his second major league long ball.

Niese is 0-3 with a 9.00 ERA in his last four starts.

"All my mistakes are getting hit," he said.

Miami loaded the bases in the seventh with the help of a double that Martin Prado chopped off the glove of a leaping Tejada at third base. Two outs later, Yelich singled to right off rookie Hansel Robles (0-1) to give the Marlins a 7-5 lead.

Marlins starter Tom Koehler - and his family sitting in the stands - had quite a scare in the second when a line drive nearly hit him square in the back of the head. The ball glanced off the top of his right shoulder, knocking his cap to the ground as he flinched, and deflected off his head directly to second baseman Dee Gordon for a groundout.

Koehler, who grew up in nearby New Rochelle, bent over at the knees and breathed a sigh of relief as his mother covered her mouth with her hand. But after a huddle on the mound that included the trainer, Koehler threw two warmup pitches and remained in the game.

"It was frightening, but I was able to stay in there," he said. "I don't know if it's the getting hit in the head or the way I pitched that gave me a headache."

TRAINER'S ROOM

Marlins: SS Adeiny Hechavarria sat out with a bruised left shoulder, but the Marlins hope he'll be sidelined just a day or two. Hechavarria, who had started all 49 games this season, crashed into Yelich while they were pursuing a ninth-inning blooper Friday night. Solano started at shortstop. ... Backup C Jeff Mathis (broken right hand) caught Friday night for Double-A Jacksonville but there is no timetable for his return until he gets comfortable at the plate, Jennings said. Mathis went 0 for 10 in four games with Triple-A New Orleans before the Zephyrs headed out West this weekend.

Mets: Gold Glove CF Juan Lagares is playing through discomfort in his ribs and right elbow.

UP NEXT

Marlins RHP David Phelps (2-2) starts the series finale Sunday against 42-year-old Bartolo Colon (7-3, 4.82 ERA), who has received a decision in each of his past 22 outings. Colon is 2-0 with a 1.23 ERA in two starts vs. Miami at Citi Field, but Stanton is 5 for 8 with two homers against him overall.