Jacob deGrom strikes out 14, hits home run as Mets sweep Marlins

MIAMI — With two strikes on Chad Wallach in the bottom of the seventh inning, the large contingent of Mets fans sitting behind the first-base dugout rose to their feet and began clapping, anticipating Jacob deGrom's next pitch. 

In sparsely filled Marlins Park, their cheers drowned out everything else. 

With the count at 2-and-2, deGrom threw a 97-mph fastball that just missed off the plate.

A chorus of boos followed.

Then deGrom threw an 88-mph change-up that Wallach swung through, eliciting loud cheers from the pro-Mets crowd.

That was his final pitch of the night, punctuating another dominant outing with a career-high 14th strikeout. 

The Mets' ace and reigning Cy Young Award winner threw seven scoreless innings in his second start of the season, and he helped himself offensively with a solo home run as he led the Mets to a 6-4 win over the Miami Marlins before 7,486 fans at Marlins Park on Wednesday night. 

"Tonight, that was probably the best I felt in a long time," deGrom said.

What should've been an easy victory became more complicated in the bottom of the ninth as the Mets' bullpen struggled to get through the inning. 

Luis Avilan and Robert Gsellman surrendered four runs, but Edwin Diaz came in to record the final out.

The Mets (5-1) completed the sweep of the Marlins as they extended their winning streak to three games. 

"They're just playing solid baseball," manager Mickey Callaway said. "We're doing the right things and we've got to keep it up."

In a competitive National League East, where the Phillies, Nationals and Braves all figure to be in the playoff mix, the Mets are going to need to take advantage of their games against the rebuilding Marlins. 

They did that in this series. 

Now they head to Citi Field for their home opener against the Washington Nationals on Thursday. The Mets took two of three from Washington in their first series of the season. 

Noah Syndergaard will be on the mound for the Mets. For his second consecutive start, he'll be following up a strong outing from deGrom. 

DeGrom overwhelmed and overpowered the Marlins,  allowing just three hits in the 114-pitch outing. 

Signed to a five-year contract extension worth $137.5 million at the end of spring training, deGrom's season is off to a good start. 

DeGrom mostly cruised through his outing. He retired the first five batters he faced before Lewis Brinson singled. DeGrom then retired the next batter to end the inning. 

After deGrom struck out the side in the third, he allowed a lead-off single to Brian Anderson in the fourth. He then retired the next three batters to strand the runner and avoid further damage. 

DeGrom came out of the dugout for the seventh knowing he had a chance to record his career high in strikeouts if he struck out the side. 

"Once I got the first two guys, then it became a goal," deGrom said. 

He got it done in another stellar outing. 

Email: iseman@northjersey.com