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Wright has go-ahead hit for Mets in win over Marlins

Sep 15, 2015 - 4:12 AM NEW YORK (AP) Out with a serious back injury for much of the season, David Wright is enjoying every minute of the New York Mets' dominating stretch run.

Even better, the team captain is contributing to its success.

Wright had a go-ahead double in the seventh inning, Yoenis Cespedes homered again and the Mets won their eighth straight, 4-3 over the Miami Marlins on Monday night.

The Mets lead in the NL East remained at 9 1/2 games with 18 to left play, as Washington beat Philadelphia 8-7.

''It was nice to come through,'' Wright said with a smile. ''September baseball. It's been a while since I've experienced coming in here and flipping on the TV to different games and celebrating wins like that.''

With two outs and runners on first and second, Wright hit a fastball from reliever Kyle Barraclough (2-1) to the deepest part of the park, well over the head of scrambling center fielder Christian Yelich, for a ground-rule double - scoring pinch-runner Eric Young Jr. and giving the Mets a 4-3 lead.

''It's huge for not only us but for David,'' Mets manager Terry Collins said. ''He's such a great guy and a great leader. It's nice to have him back.''

Travis d'Arnaud also homered for New York. Cespedes connected for the ninth time in 13 games.

''I thought it was a well-played ballgame,'' Marlins interim manager Dan Jennings said. ''It was just a case of two bad pitches that hurt us.''

Hansel Robles (4-2) pitched a scoreless seventh for the win. Jeurys Familia was perfect in the ninth for his 41st save in 46 opportunities.

Logan Verrett, making a spot in start in place of Matt Harvey, who was skipped in the rotation to limit his innings, pitched one-run ball for five.

''There was definitely a lot of adrenaline. I'm not going to lie,'' Verrett said. ''We got off to a good roll there in the first inning and just kind of kept it going.''

Miami took a 3-1 lead in the top of the sixth with two-out RBI singles by Derek Dietrich and J.T. Realmuto off of reliever Sean Gilmartin.

New York answered immediately in the bottom half. D'Arnaud followed a two-out double by Juan Uribe by sending a 1-1 pitch into the center field seats to tie the score 3-all.

Named the NL Player of the Week earlier in the day, Cespedes continued his offensive onslaught in the third inning by sending a drive into the second deck in left to give the Mets a 1-0 lead. The mammoth shot, which traveled 442 feet, according to MLB Statcast, was Cespedes' 35th of the season.

Miguel Rojas had an RBI groundout in the fifth inning.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Marlins: OF Giancarlo Stanton (left hand) stretched with the team and took batting practice before. ''There's just a comfort level of strength and when he gets to that he'll be ready to go,'' Jennings said. ''When that is we're not sure.'' ... RHP Carter Capps (right elbow strain) threw a successful bullpen and may throw a simulated game later in the week.

Mets: OF Cespedes started in left field after a much needed day of rest on Sunday in Atlanta. It was just the second time he has not been in the starting lineup since being acquired by New York on July 31. ... OF Michael Cuddyer (right wrist) was in the starting lineup for the first time since Sept. 1.

UP NEXT

Marlins: Bronx-born RHP Tom Koehler (9-13, 3.99) starts for Miami. He earned the win over Milwaukee on Wednesday after losing seven straight decisions. The former Stony Brook University standout has faced the Mets four times this season, going 0-2 with a 10.59 ERA.

Mets: RHP Jacob deGrom (13-7, 2.40) tossed seven strong innings in Washington on Wednesday, striking out nine en route to a 5-3 victory.

A GRAND TRIBUTE

Outfielder Curtis Granderson was named the Mets' nominee for the 2015 Roberto Clemente Award on Monday. A finalist from each Major League team is chosen for the annual award, which recognizes players who best represent the game both on and off the field.

SHOOTING AROUND

Dallas Mavericks forward Charlie Villanueva hung out on the field while the Mets took batting practice, chatting and taking pictures with several players, including Familia, rookie Michael Conforto and Bartolo Colon and Uribe. A Queens native, the 10-year NBA veteran wore a Mets jersey with the name Villanueva and his number 3 on the back.