Jeff McNeil's homer in 9th backs Jose Butto's strong outing in Mets' win over Marlins
New York Mets' Jeff McNeil hits a solo home run during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Monday, Sept. 18, 2023, in Miami. Credit: AP/Lynne Sladky
MIAMI — In a reversal of roles from so many pennant races past, the Mets have a chance to ruin the Marlins’ September. And they got a start Monday.
They beat Miami, 2-1, in the first of six games between the clubs during the next two weeks. Jeff McNeil’s tiebreaking home run off Tanner Scott in the ninth inning was the difference, and Adam Ottavino retired the heart of the Marlins’ lineup in order in the bottom of the frame.
Because of a scheduling quirk, the Mets and Marlins haven’t seen each other since April, when they faced off in two of the first three series of the season. The back half of the season series is contained to the second half of this month, with a three-game set through Wednesday to be followed by three more at Citi Field starting next Tuesday.
McNeil skipped as the ball cleared the rightfield wall and wore a big smile as he crossed the plate.
“I try to enjoy them all,” he said. “But that one in that situation was big.”
Righthander Jose Butto posted a third consecutive strong start — two of them against playoff contenders — holding Miami to one run and four hits in six innings.
Since rejoining the rotation, he has a 2.08 ERA and 0.98 WHIP.
Butto’s biggest scare came in the sixth, when Jorge Soler crushed a changeup over the middle of the plate off the scoreboard well beyond the leftfield wall. It eventually was ruled a foul ball.
“When things get a little challenging, he figures out a way to stay in the game,” manager Buck Showalter said. “The last inning, his velocity is down a little bit, he pitched through that inning really well. When you’re a little tired toward the end of your outing, being able to maneuver through it is impressive.”
Notes & quotes: The Marlins are a half-game behind the Cubs and Reds for the last NL wild card . . . Ronny Mauricio has six steals in as many tries in his first 14 games in the majors . . . In a swap of utility infielders, the Mets activated Luis Guillorme from the injured list and sent Jonathan Arauz to Triple-A Syracuse. Guillorme missed almost two months with a strained right calf.
Tim Healey is the Mets beat writer for Newsday. Born on Long Island and raised in Connecticut, Tim has previously worked for the South Florida Sun Sentinel, the Boston Globe and MLB.com. He is also the author of “Hometown Hardball,” a book about minor league baseball in the northeast.
