Stanton homers, Yelich notches 3 hits but Marlins can't top Mets
MIAMI (AP) -- Giancarlo Stanton is still reaching milestones during his best big league season. However, his latest mark couldn't lift the Miami Marlins to another win over the New York Mets.
The 24-year old two-time All-Star hit his 35th home run, and his two RBIs pushed him over 100, yet the Marlins lost 8-6 on Tuesday night.
"This guy, he's incredible," said Mets starting pitcher Jonathon Niese, who gave up the home run. "I thought I made some pretty good pitches and he just put good swings on all of them. He's just so strong that he was able to get that out. You've got to tip your hat to a guy like that."
It was Stanton's second shot in two games against the Mets. He now has 101 RBIs, becoming the first Marlins player to drive in 100 runs since Dan Uggla had 105 RBIs in 2010.
"This guy has been locked in and feeling good," Marlins manager Mike Redmond said. "The last couple of days the swings have been great and he's been focused. I know he probably doesn't think about the 100 RBIs but to see the way he's playing at crunch time, it's fun."
Christian Yelich had three of the Marlins' 11 hits. Miami beat the Mets 9-6 on Monday when they were helped by six New York errors.
"You have nine guys trying to put good at-bats and score runs," Yelich said. "Offense can be streaky at times. Hopefully we can keep this up and finish the year strong."
Mets third baseman David Wright has been feeling more comfortable at the plate in the past week and was due for a big game.
Wright broke out of his offensive woes with three hits -- including two doubles -- and three RBIs to lift his club to victory.
"It's fun to get hits, it's fun to drive in runs, and it sure is fun to win," Wright said. "All in all, a good night."
Wright came into the game in a 7-for-50 slump, dating to Aug. 14. He had only one extra-base hit in August.
"It's nice to feel comfortable and it's nice to feel dangerous. That's what I've felt lately," Wright said.
Juan Lagares reached base five times, including a career-high four hits, stole two bases, scored three runs, and drove in two for the Mets, who pounded out 16 hits -- two shy of their season high. New York had 18 against Atlanta on July 8.
"He had a tremendous night offensively," Mets manager Terry Collins said.
Niese (8-10) earned the win on Tuesday, giving up five runs in six innings. Jenrry Mejia pitched the ninth to record his 22nd save in 25 chances.
Brad Penny (1-1) took the loss, allowing seven hits and four runs in three innings.
The Mets jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the second inning before Stanton's two-run homer cut the Marlins' deficit to 4-3.
New York extended its lead to 7-3 with three runs in the fourth on RBI singles by Lagares and Lucas Duda, and a run-scoring double by Wright.
A sacrifice fly by Reed Johnson and an RBI single by Yelich pulled Miami within 7-5.
Wright's third RBI of the game came on a sacrifice fly in the sixth. That was matched by a groundout by Garrett Jones, who scored Adeiny Hechavarria in the sixth to keep the Marlins within two runs at 8-6.
Relievers Carlos Torres, Jeurys Familia, and Mejia held the Marlins scoreless over the final three innings.
"You can have a game like last night where we absolutely stunk and you can bring in the same guys in the same situation the next night and they can be brilliant," Collins said. "That's baseball and that's what makes our game great."
TRAINER'S ROOM
Marlins RHP Henderson Alvarez (left oblique strain), who left Monday's start early because of the injury, plans on throwing a bullpen session in the next couple of days with the hope of making his next start.
UP NEXT
Marlins RHP Tom Koehler (9-9, 3.79) will look for his first 10-win season in Wednesday's series finale against Mets RHP Jacob deGrom (7-6, 2.94). Koehler has a 2.68 ERA against the Mets in 11 appearances, making eight starts. DeGrom is 2-0 with a 0.64 ERA in two starts against the Marlins.
LAGARES ON A ROLL
Lagares' two stolen bases gave him five in five games. He is hitting .381 (16 for 42) over his last 11 games.
"I think you're seeing the making of a really good player," Wright said.
CAPPS MAKES RETURN
Marlins RHP Carter Capps gave up one run and two hits in 1 2-3 innings with two strikeouts in his first appearance since May 25 against Milwaukee. He was sidelined by an elbow injury.
