Jake Burger hits a home run and a double in the Marlins’ 6-4 win over the Mets

“I think the competitive factor came out today,” Marlins manager Skip Schumaker said. “We didn’t just want to get through the season. We wanted to compete there.”

Trailing 5-4, New York threatened with one out against Miami reliever Calvin Faucher in the eighth when José Iglesias walked and McNeil reached on an infield single. A wild pitch by Faucher advanced both runners before Iglesias was tagged out at the plate trying to score on Harrison Bader’s grounder to shortstop Xavier Edwards.

Tanner Scott relieved Faucher and ended New York’s threat by popping out Francisco Lindor to second. Scott, the Marlins’ NL All-Star representative, also worked a perfect ninth for his 15th save.

“Tanner — I’ve said it before — he’s one of the best relievers in the major leagues,” Schumaker said. “I don’t want him out there for five outs. I’ve thought about it, but it’s not fair to him.”

Fortes hit an RBI single off reliever Dedniel Nuñez in the eighth inning to extend the Marlins’ lead.

New York (49-47) is 25-12 since finishing a season-low 11 games under .500 on June 2.

Miami reliever Anthony Bender (4-2) made the final out in the fifth inning to secure the win.

The Mets narrowed a 4-0 deficit thanks to a solo home run by McNeil and a sacrifice fly by JD Martinez against Edward Cabrera in the fifth inning.

Cabrera was lifted after giving up his fifth hit with two outs in the fifth. The right-handed pitcher gave up two runs and five hits.

Burger hit the ball starting in the fifth inning to extend Miami’s lead, before McNeil hit another home run in the sixth inning off reliever Andrew Nardi.

It was McNeil’s second career multi-home run game and first multi-hit game since June 28.

“I feel like I’ve been seeing the ball well the last couple of weeks, and I’ve hit some shots that haven’t gone through,” McNeil said. “So it’s nice to have a little bit of success tonight.”

Burger went 5-for-9 in the final two games before the All-Star break, then had multiple hits against New York.

“The tough part is you get four days off and you try to keep that momentum going,” Burger said. “I thought I did a good job over the break, hitting a couple of days.

Xavier Edwards’ run-scoring single and Emmanuel Rivera’s sacrifice fly against Mets starter Sean Manaea (6-4) in the second inning gave Miami a 2-0 lead.

The Marlins extended their lead in the third inning when Burger hit an RBI double and scored on a single to center field by Josh Bell.

Manaea allowed five runs and eight hits in five innings.

Mets: RHP Kodai Senga (shoulder) is expected to throw about 85 pitches during a rehab outing with Triple-A Syracuse on Saturday. Senga’s second appearance with the minor league club is seen as the final step before he makes his season debut with the Mets next week. … LHP José Quintana was scratched from his scheduled start in Game 2 of the series on Saturday because of a fever.

Marlins: Placed OF Dane Myers (left ankle fracture) on the injured list for 10 days, retroactive to July 15, and activated INF Otto López from the injured list.

RHP Luis Severino (6-3, 3.78) was scheduled to start for the Mets on Saturday against RHP Roddery Muñoz (1-4, 5.47).

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb