LOS ANGELES — Starling Marte may have been the Mets’ biggest lineup addition of the offseason.
The veteran outfielder, who was plagued by poor health and didn’t have much of an impact on the team last season, has made a strong comeback and has emerged as a central figure in the indomitable batting lineup over the past two weeks.
On Saturday, he hit a huge home run in the sixth inning to lead the Mets to their sixth straight win over the Dodgers, 6-4, at Chavez Ravine.
After a $1 billion winter shopping spree, the Mets have won five straight series against a team that is considered the favorite to win the World Series.
Marte walked at bat in the sixth inning, 2-2, and hit a three-run home run off relief pitcher Ryan Brazier’s second pitch slider over the center field fence. The outburst was Marte’s fourth of the season and second on the team behind Pete Alonso’s six.
“Just watch it and hit it,” Marte said of his approach through an interpreter. “I know in that moment he was up against a really good pitcher. He’s got a good pitch, so he just sees pitchers that are in the zone and takes that type of approach.”
In the eighth inning, Marte (who had an RBI before his home run) stole second base on an error, then scored an insurance run on Francisco Lindor’s RBI single.
“It’s fun to watch and I’m really happy.” [Marte] It’s healthy,” Brandon Nimmo said. “Now we can all enjoy Starling being Starling.”
The Mets were threatened throughout, but Drew Smith, Jorge Lopez, Edwin Diaz and Reid Garrett held their own through the final 3/3 innings. Diaz was called up in the eighth inning, walked Shohei Ohtani and Freddie Freeman to load the bases, and got away with striking out Teoscar Hernandez and Max Muncy. Garrett then struck out the side in the ninth inning to secure the save.
Jose Butt got into a scuffle early and racked up a pitch count, but kept the Mets in the game. The right-handed pitcher pitched 4 1/3 innings, allowing two earned runs on three hits and five walks, with six strikeouts.
“I wasn’t at my best, but I kept fighting,” Butt said. “Our lineup did a really good job, our bullpen did a great job, so we won the game and the series. That’s the most important thing.”
The Mets sent seven batters to the plate in the first inning against Gavin Stone, but only scored once, taking a 1-0 lead on Lindor’s RBI double. It was Lindor’s second consecutive extra-base hit from the left side, after he hit the game-winning home run in the left-handed No. 7 on Friday. Prior to that, Lindor had five hits in 55 at bats as a left-handed batter this season.
After Lindor’s double, DJ Stewart and Jeff McNeil each issued walks to load the bases, but Harrison Bader was retired, ending the threat. The inning started with Nimmo walking and stealing second.
The Dodgers also scored one run in the first inning, with the bases loaded. Freeman followed up Mookie Betts’ leadoff double and walk to Ohtani with an RBI single against Butt. Freeman’s single and Muncy’s walk left the bases loaded with one out, but Butt struck out James Outman and Andy Page.
After Joey Wendle hit a home run to first and stole second, Marte’s home run hit in the fourth inning gave the Mets a 2-1 lead. Stone was ejected after 3¹/3 innings and was charged with both runs.
Ohtani took the lead with a double in the fifth inning, and with one out, Butt timely hit Hernandez, then Michael Tonkin was brought on. After Muncy’s sacrifice fly tied the score at 2-2, Tonkin struck out Outman to take the lead.
Starting in the sixth inning, leadoff pitcher Zach Short walked and Nimmo was hit by a pitch, so Dodgers manager Dave Roberts removed left-hander Ryan Yarbrough and brought in Brazier. Marte homered on the second pitch, giving the Mets a 5-2 lead.
“The biggest thing is not only that he’s healthy and feeling good and having fun,” manager Carlos Mendoza said.
Smith came in with the tying run in the bottom of the inning, walking Betts to get on base before striking out Ohtani. But Freeman hit a two-run home run, cutting the Mets’ lead to 5-4. Smith gave Hernandez a walk to load the bases, but he retired Muncy and escaped.
After the Mets extended their lead, Diaz and Garrett took care of the rest.
“The energy is outstanding and we’re all playing for each other,” Marte said. “We’re all supporting each other and playing really good baseball. That’s something that’s become more apparent over the past few weeks.”
