Brandon Nimmo and Jeff McNeil led the New York Mets to a 7-3 victory over the Miami Marlins on Friday night. Nimmo broke out of a slump with a three-run homer, ending a skid of 0-for-17, while McNeil contributed a two-run shot. The Mets had a strong fourth inning, including an RBI triple by Francisco Lindor. Pitcher Sean Manaea threw seven effective innings for his third win in four starts.

Nimmo expressed relief at ending his slump, saying, “Today’s a step in the right direction.” He had struggled with a .139 batting average and 37 strikeouts between home runs. McNeil, who had a slow start to the season, has been performing well since the All-Star break with a .318 average, seven homers, and 16 RBIs.

The Mets moved within one game of the NL wild card position after the Atlanta Braves lost to the Los Angeles Angels. Manager Carlos Mendoza praised McNeil’s hitting abilities, stating, “When he gets in a strong position and with conviction, he’s a pretty good hitter.”

Manaea received a standing ovation from the crowd of 32,311 after his impressive performance. He acknowledged the support, saying, “To be able to have a good outing in front of the home crowd is incredible.” The left-hander has pitched seven innings in three of his last four starts.

The Marlins manager, Skip Schumaker, acknowledged the challenge of bouncing back after the Mets’ strong fourth inning. Miami’s Jake Burger continued his impressive form with a homer, making it seven home runs during an eight-game hitting streak.

In the next game of the series, Marlins’ Max Meyer is set to pitch against Mets’ Luis Severino. The Mets are hopeful for the return of Starling Marte from a knee injury, while the Marlins have made roster changes due to injuries.