Brandon Nimmo ended his slump with a three-run home run, and Jeff McNeil hit a two-run shot, leading the New York Mets to a 7-3 win over the Miami Marlins on Friday night.
Nimmo and McNeil both homered in a six-run fourth inning, which also featured an RBI triple by Francisco Lindor. Sean Manaea (9-5) pitched seven solid innings to earn his third win in four starts.
Nimmo’s 390-foot home run into the second deck in right field broke his 0-for-17 streak and was his first home run since July 10.
“I’m not doing very well and obviously, the worse you do, the less comfortable you feel,” Nimmo said. “But today’s a step in the right direction.”
The 31-year-old outfielder, who missed Thursday’s 7-6 loss to Oakland due to a stomach virus, had struggled with a .139 batting average (15 for 108) and 37 strikeouts between home runs.
“Maybe I got some of those demons out of me with being sick,” Nimmo said. “I don’t know, but it felt good to help out tonight.”
Nimmo’s home run was part of a six-run inning for the Mets, who moved within a game of Atlanta for the third NL wild card spot after the Braves lost 3-2 to the Los Angeles Angels. McNeil’s go-ahead homer and Lindor’s RBI triple came earlier in the fourth inning against starter Roddery Muñoz (2-7).
McNeil, who led the majors with a .326 average in 2022 but hit just .216 in the first half of this season, is now batting .318 with seven home runs and 16 RBIs since the All-Star break.
“When he gets in a strong position and with conviction, he’s a pretty good hitter,” Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said.
Jesse Winker also had a single in the fourth inning for the Mets, who hadn’t hit for the cycle in an inning since July 6, 2023, against Arizona.
“It’s just tough to come back after that six-run fourth,” Marlins manager Skip Schumaker said.
J.D. Martinez started the scoring for the Mets on Fireworks Night at Citi Field with an RBI single in the first inning.
Manaea, who allowed three runs and five hits, received a standing ovation from the 32,311 fans in the crowd after a 1-2-3 seventh inning and clapped into his glove in acknowledgment.
