Stanton slugs 56th homer as Marlins pound Mets
MIAMI -- Giancarlo Stanton hit his major-league-leading 56th homer and Jose Urena won his 14th game, leading the Miami Marlins to a 9-2 win and a three-game sweep over the New York Mets on Wednesday afternoon.
Stanton went 2-for-5 with three RBIs, including a two-run shot in the eighth inning that went 399 feet to left and was clocked at 117 mph. He is on pace to hit 60 homers this season, which would make him the sixth player in major league history to reach that milestone.
Urena (14-6) allowed seven hits, no walks and two runs in eight innings to win for the fifth time in his last six decisions.
The Marlins (72-80) received offensive support from Marcell Ozuna and Justin Bour. Ozuna had three hits, including a pair of two-out RBI singles, both with two strikes. Bour hit a two-run homer and tied his career high with his 23rd long ball of the season. Bour pushed his total to 71 RBIs, two short of his career high.
New York (65-87) dropped 12 of 19 games to the Marlins this year.
Rafael Montero (5-11) took the loss, lasting just four innings and allowing seven hits, two walks and five runs.
Montero got in trouble with the first batter he faced as Dee Gordon doubled, advanced on a single and scored when Ozuna banged a single off the wall in right.
Miami scored three runs in the third -- all with two outs. Christian Yelich walked on a full-count pitch, stole second and scored on another clutch Ozuna single. Bour then drove his homer to center, giving Miami a 4-0 lead.
Stanton's two-out single to right gave the Marlins a 5-0 lead in the fourth.
New York strung together three singles -- by Kevin Plawecki, Travis Taijeron and Travis d'Arnaud -- in the fifth to get on the board. D'Arnaud's RBI hit came with two outs on an opposite-field fly ball that fell just inside the right-field line.
Brandon Nimmo's seventh-inning homer, his fourth of the season, cut New York's deficit to 5-2. Nimmo pulled his shot just inside the right-field pole.
Two players not known for power hit back-to-back homers in the eighth to give Miami a 7-2 lead. Backup catcher A.J. Ellis hit his fifth of the season, and shortstop Miguel Rojas hit his first, slamming it off the pole in left.
Stanton followed later in the inning with his blast to cap the scoring.
NOTES: Mets SS Amed Rosario, who was hospitalized late Monday night due to a stomach illness, missed his third straight game. ... RHP Jeurys Familia, who had 94 saves the past two seasons but only three this year due to a suspension and injuries, is expected to be used as a closer at least once before this season ends. ... Miami LHP Chris O'Grady (right oblique) was activated from the disabled list. ... Marlins rookie LHP Dillon Peters, who missed nearly three months this year due to a thumb injury in the minors, will pitch in the Arizona Fall League to speed his development. ... Miami starts a six-game trip with Friday's visit to the Arizona Diamondbacks. ... New York plays the next seven in a row at home, starting with Friday's game against the Washington Nationals.