MIAMI, Sept. 18 (UPI) — Jeff McNeil sent the third pitch of the ninth inning on a scorching 96-mph one-way trip over the right field fence at LoanDepot Park to lift the New York Mets to a narrow win over the Miami Marlins on Monday in Miami.
The veteran left fielder hit the 1-1 slider 373 feet for the go-ahead, solo homer in the 2-1 triumph. He went 2 for 4 for the Mets (70-80).
“I just seem to be barreling a little bit more balls,” McNeil told reporters. “I’m really not trying to do too much up there.”
The loss dropped the Marlins (78-73) just outside the final wild card slot in the National League playoff picture, with 11 regular-season games remaining.
Marlins second baseman Luis Arraez, who leads MLB with a .354 average, went 2 for 4 in the loss. He logged his 200th hit of the season with a single in his first at-bat. Arraez is the fourth player in Marlins history to log at least 200 hits in a season.
“It means a lot for me because I worked hard for this,” Arraez said. “I did it. I made it. … It’s a long season.”
Starting pitchers Edward Cabrera of the Marlins and Jose Butto of the Mets kept the game scoreless through the first four innings.
The Mets struck first in the fifth. Third baseman Ronny Mauricio singled in the second at-bat of the inning. He then stole second base.
Cabrera walked catcher Omar Narvaez in the next at-bat. Mets designated hitter Mark Vientos singled to center field two pitches later, bringing home Mauricio for a 1-0 edge.
The Marlins answered in the bottom of the inning. Butto walked right fielder Jesus Sanchez to start the half-inning. Marlins left fielder Garrett Hampson singled in the next exchange, pushing Sanchez to third base.
Marlins shortstop Joey Wendle followed by grounding into a double play, which gave Sanchez enough time to come in for the game-tying run.
The Mets threatened with two hits in the top of the eighth, but relief pitcher David Robertson escaped the inning without allowing a run. The Marlins failed to reach base in the bottom of the inning.
Marlins relief pitcher Tanner Scott replaced Robertson in the ninth. He missed the strike zone on his first offering to McNeil to start the inning. He then threw a slider for a called strike.
McNeil hit his next pitch, an 89.4-mph slider, into the bullpen in right field for the game winning run.
Mets reliever Adam Ottavino retired the Marlins in order in the bottom of the inning to secure the victory and earn his 11th save of the season.
The Marlins will host the Mets in the second game of the series at 6:40 p.m. EDT Tuesday in Miami.
