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Mets ride 4-homer afternoon to 4-game sweep of Marlins

With a suddenly slumping starting rotation and hibernating offense, the Marlins have matched their longest losing streak of the season.

By Ely Sussman
Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images

It feels like ancient history that we were chuckling about the Marlins and the playoffs-or-bust Mets being the National League’s two worst teams. In completing a four-game sweep of the Fish Wednesday afternoon with a 7-2 victory, New York’s laughingstock franchise made an emphatic statement that they’ll be dangerous down the stretch.

Jordan Yamamoto: 6.0 IP, 5 H, 4 ER, 1 BB, 6 K, 2 HR on 87 pitches

Steven Matz: 6.2 IP, 7 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 7 K, 1 HR on 103 pitches

Just like in every other contest of this series, the Mets put runs on the board in the first inning. Their early 2-0 lead against Jordan Yamamoto came courtesy of fellow rookie Pete Alonso, his 36th home run of the season.

On the bright side, Yams would finish with one of his most efficient outings as a major leaguer—his 70.1 strike percentage established a new career high. He generated swinging strikes with five different pitches. Curiously, he only threw five sliders in the entire start, continuing a trend of him abandoning what had previously been his best weapon.

Michael Conforto would be the big star of the day. His home run against Yamamoto in the third inning was his 100th as a Met.

Conforto joined David Wright and Darryl Strawberry as the only players to reach that milestone prior to his 27th birthday.

He then mashed No. 101 off José Quijada.

Miami’s run production came courtesy of a Lewis Brinson opposite-field single and Brian Anderson solo homer. As noted by Wells Dusenbury of the Sun Sentinel, Brinson’s all-fields approach is a welcome change from his initial 2019 struggles.

On the other hand, Isan Díaz took another 0-for-4, dropping to a .067 batting average since his call-up (43.8 K%). It shouldn’t need to be said, but don’t overreact to small sample sizes. Díaz still has all the potential to be a productive, everyday second baseman.

Including their pair of defeats to the Rays last weekend, the Marlins endured an 0-6 road trip. The severe downturn puts them in strong position for a top-three pick in next year’s MLB Draft.

Next up is a frightening homestand: four games against the Braves, then three against the Dodgers (who own MLB’s best record). Dallas Keuchel and Elieser Hernandez are the probable starters for Thursday’s 7:10 p.m. opener.

Marlins vs. Mets box score (Baseball Theater)

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