NEW YORK — Christian Yelich continued to thrive in the cleanup spot Thursday night, when he homered for the third time in as many nights and finished with three hits, three RBIs and two stolen bases as the Miami Marlins salvaged the finale of a four-game series against the New York Mets with a 6-4 win at Citi Field.
The Marlins (68-66) snapped a five-game losing streak and won for just the third time in 10 contests. Miami, which scored eight runs during its losing streak, moved within three games of the idle St. Louis Cardinals in the race for the second wild-card spot in the National League.
The Mets (69-65) missed a chance to move within a game of the Cardinals. New York has won nine of its last 12 games.
Yelich, who made his major-league debut in the cleanup spot Tuesday, walked and stole second in the second before his RBI single in the third scored the game’s first run. He singled, stole second and scored on a double by Jeff Francoeur in the fifth before capping the Marlins’ scoring with a three-run homer to left. All three of his homers against the Mets went to the opposite field.
Xavier Scruggs had an RBI double for the Marlins while Francoeur and Jeff Mathis had two hits apiece.
Right-hander Jose Urena (3-5) earned the win after allowing one run on four hits and two walks while striking out two over six innings. The Mets loaded the bases with none out in the eighth before Kyle Barraclough induced Michael Conforto to hit into a double play and struck out pinch-hitter Yoenis Cespedes.
Jay Bruce homered in the sixth and laced an RBI single in the eighth while Asdrubal Cabrera hit a pinch-hit two-run homer in the ninth. Jose Reyes had two hits.
Right-hander Jacob deGrom (7-8) took the loss after allowing three runs on six hits and four walks while striking out six over five innings. DeGrom, who was pitching for the first time since Aug. 24, has lost his last three starts, a stretch in which he has given up 16 runs in 14 2/3 innings.
NOTES: The Mets promoted four players from Triple-A Las Vegas: OF Michael Conforto, IF/OF Ty Kelly C Kevin Plawecki and RHP Gabriel Ynoa. … New York SS Asdrubal Cabrera (left knee) and LF Yoenis Cespedes (right quad) were both out of the starting lineup. Manager Terry Collins didn’t want either player to risk aggravating his injuries on a field wet from heavy rains earlier in the day. … The Marlins promoted four players from Triple-A New Orleans: RHP Brian Ellington, OF Destin Hood, RHP Nefl Ogando and C Tomas Telis. To make room for Hood on the 40-man roster, the Marlins designated LHP Raudel Lazo for assignment. … Marlins CF Marcell Ozuna (left wrist) did not play Thursday, a day after he was injured making a diving catch. He is day-to-day.