With a roster full of unprovens — rookies trying to show they’re major leaguers and part-timers trying to prove they’re starters — this month will be a trial run for a lot of Mets. Lucas Duda’s three-run home run helped the squad to a 4-3 come-from-behind win over the Marlins, and helped his case for being in New York next year.
Duda’s sixth-inning shot turned a 2-1 deficit into a 4-2 lead, with winner Jon Niese (7-7) and the bullpen holding on from there to snap a four-game skid.
“I hope [it sparks him] and it’s certainly something Lucas has to feel good about,’’ manager Terry Collins said. “He’s a big strong guy. Everybody expects him to hit home runs. I just expect him to drive runs in, and I think that swing might get him started the last couple of weeks. It was a big swing; it was a big game for us to win.’’
It was a big victory for a floundering Mets team that had lost seven of nine and 10 of 15 against the Marlins, the NL East’s cellar-dwellers. It was a huge hit for Duda, who is getting extended play at first base and auditioning for a spot in 2014.
“This is his chance to play every day, at first base where that’s his position, that’s where he likes to play,” Collins said. “We’re hoping he relaxes at the plate, that he doesn’t have to worry about playing defense because we know he can play first.
“Here’s his shot to say, ‘I’m going to be a legitimate candidate, you’re going to have to think about me next year at that spot.’ That’s why we’re hoping here as we finish the season out that Lucas does what we know he can do.’’
Niese — rebounding from last Saturday’s six-run nightmare — scattered six hits and let up three runs, walking none and striking out seven in 6¹/₃ innings thanks to a sharp curveball. He gave up solo shots in the second and seventh to Giancarlo Stanton, the Mets’ presumed No. 1 offseason trade target, who put on a show for the front office and the 20,562 at Citi Field.
“It was pretty windy, so the curveball had more bite to it. Obviously that third one to Stanton didn’t do much: He crushed it,’’ said Niese, vexed after hanging an 0-2 curve to Stanton leading off the seventh,and exiting two batters later. “I wanted to be in there, but that wasn’t the reason I was mad. You set expectations or yourself, and when you don’t meet them you get angry.’’
Niese trailed 2-1 and appeared bound for a tough-luck loss until Duda tagged a 2-2 curve from lefty Brad Hand (0-1). He sent it into the bullpen to plate Eric Young Jr. and Andrew Brown (1-for-2, homer, two walks, two runs).
“It was just a hanging curveball and luckily I got enough of it that it got out,’’ said Duda, who had hit just .190 against lefties going into the game and had just one homer all year with men on base. But with the Mets reportedly looking to fill first base internally, Duda only helped his cause.
“I’m just more concerned with winning and playing well,” he said. “Whatever they do going forward is up to them. I don’t have any say in it; I’m just going to play hard, have fun and hopefully continue to win.’’
The bullpen tossed 2²/₃ scoreless innings, with LaTroy Hawkins pitching a perfect ninth for his ninth save.