MIAMI — R.A. Dickey won his third straight start for the Mets by beating the Marlins 1-0 yesterday at a nearly vacant Sun Life Stadium.
“I wish that was significant,” said the knuckleballer who improved his record to 8-11. “I’m just glad we won.”
Dickey’s recent success in the win column comes too late to mean much for the Mets (70-71) this season, but it’s better than having the entire team limp into the offseason.
Manny Acosta, on the day manager Terry Collins said he would give him some chances to close games, got his first save of the season after newcomer Josh Stinson had his second impressive outing in a row.
The Mets are looking just as much at 2012 as they are for this season, and Stinson could play a role next year.
“I thought today was the most relaxed he’s looked in his outings,” Collins said of the rookie. “He looked like he knew he belonged out there and he made pitches.”
That was true when he got Logan Morrison and Gaby Sanchez to end the eighth with the tying run in scoring position.
And Acosta finished the job, drilling Mike Stanton with a splitter that got away before retiring Greg Dobbs.
“Exactly where did all that [aggressiveness] come from?” Collins said of Acosta, who hadn’t gotten a save since Aug. 18 of last season against Houston.
“This guy, the last month, six weeks, has not only amped it up emotionally, but his location [is improved] and pitches he’s throwing strikes down in the zone . . . He’s lighting it up. I don’t mean velocity-wise, I mean easy innings.”
Acosta was throwing in the mid-90s consistently, something that can be especially effective after a lineup has seen Dickey for seven innings.
“He really has pitched well without any wins,” Collins said of Dickey. “His job is to keep us in the game, and he’s done that.”
Dickey had been forced to be content with no-decisions, provided he pitched reasonably well and the team had a chance to win. Still, even he was getting tired of hearing that when he fell to six games below .500 on Aug. 10.
Much has changed since then, since he’s having his best stretch since beginning his Mets’ career by going 6-0 after being called up from Triple-A Buffalo last May.
The Mets got to the Marlins early yesterday, with Jose Reyes’ single to left that was followed by a one-out double by Lucas Duda. It scored Reyes and provided the Mets with all the offense they needed.
Dickey’s strong start was particularly important last night, since the Mets have a doubleheader today at Citi Field, with recent call-up Chris Schwinden set to make his major league debut, followed by the tiring Dillon Gee.
“I started out mediocre,” said Dickey, who is also 3-0 against the Marlins this season and has not allowed a run against them in 20 innings. “I think that’s just a coincidence.”
Acosta’s solid ninth inning could give the Mets something else to consider as the season winds down.
“I had everything working,” said Acosta, acknowledging the differences in pitching the ninth inning compared to earlier in games. “It’s the last inning. It’s a different situation. It’s more pressure.”
It didn’t look like it, as Acosta used his fastball to mow down the Marlins.