MIAMI — As Javier Báez rounded third base after lining an opposite-field, go-ahead solo home run over the right-field fence, he turned toward the Marlins’ dugout and talked some smack on his way to home plate.
In the eighth inning on Tuesday, Báez and Marlins reliever Richard Bleier chirped at one another after Báez flew out to end the inning with the Mets down two runs. The Mets lost the game, which extended their skid. Their offense, which looked bad, never received a spark.
In the eighth inning on Wednesday, Báez swung at an Anthony Bass slider that was almost off the plate — a pitcher’s pitch — and hit it 100.8 mph for a 358-foot home run. He had fun as he passed Miami’s dugout on his home run trot, and that energy might be just what these Mets need in a time like this.
Báez’s home run, and his incredible tag-avoiding slide at home plate, propelled the Mets (56-51) to a 5-3 victory over the Marlins that snapped a three-game skid. With the Mets’ division lead shrinking by the day, their main trade deadline acquisition played hero and helped them avoid what would have been their longest losing streak of the season.
The home run put the Mets on top, but the man nicknamed “El Mago” (the magician) might’ve made a more impressive play than that in this game. He defied all anatomical odds on a slide he used to score a run.
In the second inning, with a run already home, Tomás Nido hit a hard grounder to first base. Báez bolted from third and the throw home had him beat by a good margin — until Báez pulled his latest magic trick.
Marlins catcher Alex Jackson had the ball and was ready to tag out Báez at home but as Báez executed a headfirst slide, he pulled back his left hand and reached out his right arm toward the back of the plate — a swim move of sorts. Somehow, he was safe as he continued to dazzle with his baserunning skills.
The Mets desperately needed this win. They've looked lost for almost a week. They haven't been able to taste much success, though that's probably not for lack of effort.
They didn't exactly explode in this game. The Mets went 2 for 13 with runners in scoring position. They left 12 on base.
But as they say in this game, putting the ball in play can lead to good outcomes.
It did here.
The Marlins' three errors and various other mistakes helped the Mets' offense. The Mets scored two runs on ground balls, a third on a sacrifice bunt that turned into an error when Marlins starter Zach Thompson fielded Carlos Carrasco’s ball and threw it away when trying to start 1-6-3 double play, then another on a passed ball.
The Mets scored enough to support their pitching, which is a positive turn after what we've witnessed over the last week.
Carrasco's second start of the season lasted 4 1/3 innings, which is 1/3 of an inning more than his debut. He allowed two earned runs as the Marlins gave him trouble in the fifth inning before Joe Panik's run-scoring single chased him.
Jesus Aguilar launched a game-tying solo homer off Jeurys Familia in the sixth, but the Mets' bullpen pitched well otherwise. Without closer Edwin Diaz — who is on the paternity list — Miguel Castro pitched a scoreless seventh, Drew Smith hurled a scoreless eighth and Trevor May slammed the door in the ninth.
As the Mets' bullpen kept Miami quiet, Báez homered to break the tie. This blast, his 24th of the season, tied Pete Alonso for most home runs on the Mets.
Over the last handful of games, the Mets haven't had much to celebrate. Everything has come difficult.
One of their newest additions, Báez, gave them something to cheer late in the game — and he relished the moment as well.
