Jim Rassol-USA TODAY Sports.

The New York Mets (63-37) have beat up on the NL East all season, and Saturday night proved to be no exception in their 4-0 victory over the Miami Marlins (47-54). Carlos Carrasco picked up his 100th career victory in dominating fashion, the offense slugged three home runs, and the Mets have put together a five-game winning streak.

The first-inning struggles are well-documented for Carrasco, and he allowed two runners to reach base in the opening frame. However, he got out of the jam and settled into a groove, retiring seven batters in a row following that scoring threat.

On the mound for the Marlins was Nick Neidert, making his season debut after seven starts for the team in 2021. The Mets went down quickly in the first two innings, but Jeff McNeil got to Neidert in the third with a solo homer. It was McNeil’s fifth home run of the season, his first long ball since June 15th, and his first extra-base hit in seven games since the All-Star break.

Four batters later, Francisco Lindor tacked on another run with an RBI single to make it 2-0 in favor of the Mets.

The Marlins never came close to figuring out Carrasco, who demonstrated masterful precision as he has done all throughout July. He has not allowed a run across his last three starts (18 2/3 innings) and finished the month with a 0.90 ERA.

Lindor provided an insurance run in the eighth inning with a solo homer, celebrating Puerto Rican Heritage Night at loanDepot Park in style. That home run gave Lindor 69 RBI on the season, tied for seventh in the majors in that category.

J.D. Davis piled on with a pinch-hit solo homer just two batters later to extend the Mets’ lead to 4-0. It was Davis’ fourth home run of the season and the team’s third home run of the night.

Carrasco worked into the eighth inning before turning the ball over to Seth Lugo, who finished off the shutout. The Mets have 14 shutout victories this year, and this five-game winning streak is their second-longest of the season.

Tyler Naquin made his Mets debut, batting sixth in the lineup and playing left field. He finished the night 0-for-4 but put some good swings on the ball and fielded his position well.

 

Player of the Game: Carlos Carrasco

Carrasco capped off a month of dominance with one of his best starts of the season. After this victory, the Mets have won all five of his starts in July. Carrasco has brought his season ERA down to 3.79, and he has proven himself to be the mark of consistency at the tail end of the Mets’ starting rotation.

Final line for Carrasco: 7.2 IP, 4 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 7 K

 

On Deck:

The Mets will go for the series sweep when they face the Marlins on Sunday afternoon at loanDepot Park. The first pitch is set for 1:40 p.m. ET, and the game will be broadcast on PIX 11. The Mets will have Taijuan Walker on the mound, while the Marlins will run out Pablo López.