The way Wilmer Flores is hitting, it appears he plans to stay on the field - regardless of Jose Reyes' arrival.
Both infielders were in the lineup Wednesday and teamed up to lead the Mets past Miami 4-2. After the game, however, New York put struggling right-hander Matt Harvey on the disabled list with shoulder discomfort.
Flores homered twice, Jacob deGrom pitched seven strong innings and the Mets won for the sixth time in seven games. Reyes had a pair of doubles for his first big league hits this season and keyed a two-run rally in the third.
"He creates a lot of problems at the top of the lineup," New York second baseman Neil Walker said. "He's going to be important for us setting the table for the guys in the middle."
Reyes rejoined the Mets on Tuesday and went 0 for 4 in his first major league game since serving a 59-day domestic violence suspension. All set to play third base, Reyes is expected to cut into Flores' playing time - but the New York fan favorite has hit four home runs since Sunday.
"Definitely a good feeling," Flores said.
Marlins slugger Giancarlo Stanton went deep twice for the second consecutive day, making him the first major leaguer to homer in four straight at-bats since Albert Pujols in April 2006, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
Local
Stanton's power surge gave him 200 homers.
"I did not know that until a minute ago. So that's really cool," he said.
But that was all the Marlins mustered in finishing a 3-6 trip. Chris Johnson struck out with the bases loaded to end the first, and Christian Yelich grounded into a double play with runners at the corners in the fifth.
Curtis Granderson hit a two-run single in the third after Reyes doubled inside third base. He pointed toward the Mets' dugout and patted his helmet several times.
"Yesterday I was a little excited," Reyes said. "Today was more like a normal day for me."
The Mets took two of three from Miami ahead of a four-game showdown with the NL East-leading Nationals this weekend at Citi Field leading into the All-Star break.
New York was swept in a three-game series at Washington last week.
"It'd be good to have a little traction going into the off days," Walker said. "I think we're more confident than we were a week ago up and down the lineup."
Following a 26-pitch first inning, deGrom (5-4) settled in and won his second straight start after going winless in his previous 10. The right-hander gave up six hits and struck out seven while throwing a season-high 117 pitches in his final scheduled outing before the break.
"We needed it. We were a little short again in the 'pen today, so we needed him to go deep," Mets manager Terry Collins said.
Addison Reed worked a perfect eighth and All-Star closer Jeurys Familia got three outs for his major league-best 30th save. Pinch-hitter Ichiro Suzuki grounded into a game-ending double play, keeping him at 2,990 hits.
Familia has converted a club-record 46 consecutive regular-season save opportunities since August, though he did blow a four-run lead this year.
Flores connected twice off left-hander Justin Nicolino (2-5), who fell to 0-5 in his last 10 major league starts. It was Flores' fourth career multihomer game and second in four days, including a 6-for-6 performance Sunday against the Chicago Cubs.
"When he's doing what he's doing, it's invaluable for us," Walker said.
ALL-STAR PLANS
Collins, who will manage the National League next Tuesday in San Diego, said New York RHP Noah Syndergaard (9-3, 2.41 ERA) is "in the mix" to start the All-Star Game. Syndergaard recently had his right elbow checked because he's been pitching with a bone spur, and that will factor into the decision on whether he appears in the Midsummer Classic, Collins said. Syndergaard is scheduled to start Friday night against Washington ace Stephen Strasburg (11-0).
TRAINER'S ROOM
Marlins: 1B Justin Bour was put on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to July 3, with a sprained right ankle. Veteran utilityman Don Kelly was called up from Triple-A New Orleans and played first base, his first major league start since April 12, 2015. The 36-year-old Kelly is married to Walker's older sister, Carrie. Walker twice threw out Kelly on grounders. ... 3B Martin Prado was rested.
Mets: Harvey (4-10, 4.86 ERA) was placed on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to Tuesday. He was seen by team doctors and referred to Dr. Robert Thompson for further examination Thursday in St. Louis, the Mets said. Harvey had been scheduled to start Saturday night against Nationals RHP Max Scherzer. RHP Seth Lugo was recalled from Triple-A Las Vegas. ... SS Asdrubal Cabrera was scratched from the lineup about 10 minutes before the first pitch. The team announced it was because a family illness kept him up all night. 1B James Loney was inserted, shifting Flores from 1B to 3B and Reyes from 3B to SS, his natural position. Reyes played third on Tuesday night.
