Granderson Slugs A Pair As Surging Mets Beat Marlins 7-4
NEW YORK (AP) -- Curtis Granderson came off the bench and homered twice, Jose Reyes had four hits and the surging New York Mets beat the Miami Marlins 7-4 on Tuesday night.
Asdrubal Cabrera extended his recent tear at the plate, hitting a two-run homer in his return to the lineup after missing one start due to a sore left knee. Rookie right-hander Seth Lugo (2-2) gave up two runs in the first inning but recovered nicely as the Mets won for the eighth time in 10 games.
By winning the first two games of the four-game series, New York (68-64) moved ahead of slumping Miami for second place in the NL East. Both teams began the day 2 1/2 games behind St. Louis for the league's second wild card.
Looking to spark a scuffling offense, Marlins manager Don Mattingly shuffled his 2-3-4 hitters. It worked right off the bat, with Christian Yelich hitting a two-run homer in his first career plate appearance batting cleanup.
It was Miami's first home run in eight games, but that was it for the Marlins until J.T. Realmuto hit a solo homer off Jim Henderson in the ninth. Jeff Francoeur tripled with two outs and scored on Dee Gordon's single before Jeurys Familia struck out Marcell Ozuna for his major league-leading 43rd save in 46 chances.
Familia matched his 2015 total and again tied the franchise record for one season, first set by Armando Benitez in 2001. Seven of Familia's saves this year have come against Miami _ most for any major league reliever versus one team.
New York has won nine of the past 12 meetings this season.
Miami has dropped four straight and six of eight overall.
Granderson, batting for Lugo, connected for his second career pinch-hit homer leading off the sixth, extending the Mets' lead to 4-2 against Tom Koehler (9-10).
Alejandro De Aza added an RBI single later in the inning off Dustin McGowan, and Granderson launched a two-run shot in the seventh.
Reyes singled leading off the first and Cabrera went deep on the next pitch. It was the 17th home run this season and fourth in 11 at-bats for the reigning NL player of the week.
Cabrera left Sunday's loss to Philadelphia in the first inning after aggravating a left knee injury that sidelined him twice earlier this year. He struck out as a pinch hitter Monday night.
Slumping right fielder Jay Bruce, who got the start over Granderson, doubled and scored on a two-out single by Wilmer Flores that gave the Mets a 3-2 lead.
Bruce and Granderson, both with All-Star track records, have been sharing time in right as each tries to get going at the plate.
Koehler, who grew up in nearby New Rochelle, gave up a career-high 10 hits in five-plus innings. He fell to 2-7 against the Mets.
The right-hander has lost two straight after going 3-0 in his previous six starts.
Lugo went six innings and retired the final eight batters of his third major league start. He has won the past two.
Struggling reliever Hansel Robles followed Lugo with two scoreless innings.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Marlins: LHP Adam Conley (finger tendinitis) began a throwing program in Florida. It could take him about three weeks to return, Mattingly said. --- RHP Andrew Cashner (finger blister) played long toss and is scheduled to throw a bullpen Wednesday. He remains on track to start Friday in Cleveland, Mattingly said. Cashner was scratched from his turn Sunday. --- RHP A.J. Ramos was OK after crashing into Reyes on a play at the plate Monday night, Mattingly said.
Mets: Rookie LHP Steven Matz (shoulder) is not ready to come off the disabled list and was scratched him from his scheduled start Thursday night. Jacob deGrom will be moved up a day to start for Matz in the finale of the four-game series, manager Terry Collins said. --- 2B Neil Walker sat out his third straight game with a stiff back.
UP NEXT
Marlins RHP David Phelps (7-6, 2.52 ERA) starts Wednesday night against 43-year-old RHP Bartolo Colon (12-7, 3.44 ERA).
(Copyright 2016 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)