MLB

Wheeler shows a breakthrough in strong outing

Zack Wheeler got a tough luck no-decision Friday night, but was solid in what could be a breakthrough outing.

He held the Marlins to a run through six strong innings, allowing just four singles and three walks, while striking out 10. It was only his second career double-digit strikeout performance, after striking out a dozen last Aug. 15 at San Diego.

“He pitched as good as he has all year,’’ said manager Terry Collins, who praised Wheeler’s ability to fight through and avoid the big inning in the Mets’ eventual 4-3 win.

Wheeler struck out the side in the third — Henderson Alvarez on heat, Christian Yelich on a changeup and Marcell Ozuna on a curveball — and limited Miami to just one run in the fifth rather than letting the trouble grow. He got in trouble in the sixth, but fanned Derek Dietrich and Adeiny Hechavarria to escape the jam.

“You know you’ve got to make big pitches at certain points in the game. That’s what I did,” said Wheeler, who hasn’t won at Citi Field in six starts dating to last Aug. 20, despite a 3.44 ERA.

“It’s something I take pride in, not letting guys get past third base. That’s a big part of my game, bearing down when I have to.’’

“That was a big inning for him,” Collins said. “There are times when you grow in the game when you’re faced with some situations where you have to reach down inside and get out of it. We needed to get him out of the [sixth] inning.

“He had to get through the inning because it was going to be tough for us to burn too many more players.’’


Collins said Curtis Granderson is showing signs of breaking out of his funk following his walk-off single Friday.

“He’s taking better swings [and] he’s being more selective at the plate which are all good signs,’’ Collins said. “He’s putting the ball on the barrel, which is another good sign. If he starts to heat up, things are going to get much better.’’


Mets starters have a 1.81 ERA in their past 11 games.


Daniel Murphy stole third base in the third inning and has been successful in 26 straight attempts. That ties Howard Johnson for the second-longest streak in franchise history. Kevin McReynolds holds the club mark with 33 straight steals.


Jeurys Familia pitched the ninth inning in his first action since last Friday.