Michael Conforto is attempting to silence questions whether he can return to All-Star form in 2019.
“It’s been a fun couple of weeks or so,” Conforto said after the Mets won 4-3 and 5-2 at Citi Field on Thursday to sweep the Marlins in a doubleheader.
Conforto hit a game-tying homer in the ninth inning in Game 1 before the ensuing batter, Todd Frazier, launched a walk-off blast. In the nightcap, Conforto delivered a go-ahead, two-run double in the fifth.
In 52 games since the All-Star break, Conforto has emerged with 14 homers and 38 RBIs. The surge has followed a sluggish first half in Conforto’s return from left shoulder surgery last September.
Jason Vargas (6-9) lasted six innings in the nightcap and allowed two earned runs on three hits with seven strikeouts and two walks.
The Mets were down to their final out against Kyle Barraclough in Game 1 when Conforto homered to tie it 3-3. Frazier followed with a shot into the left-field seats, giving the Mets their first walk-off victory in team history on consecutive homers with two outs in the ninth inning.
“In my mind I was trying to hit a home run,” Frazier said. “Those rarely happen and got a pitch to hit and squeaked on home.”
The Mets signed Frazier to a two-year deal worth $17 million last winter after it became evident David Wright — who last played in a major league game on May 27, 2016 – wouldn’t be ready for the season. Wright on Thursday announced his intention to start one last game in his Mets career after he is activated from the DL on the next homestand.
“[Wright] is one of the greatest Mets to play here,” Frazier said. “I looked up to him as a young kid coming up and I remember when I was playing against him with the Reds, just watching his prowess, the way he got ready for ground balls.
“He deserves all the credit in the world. He’s a guy who worked his butt off with the injuries he has, not many people would do what he did. Many people would not show up and basically give up.”
Steven Matz lasted 6¹/₃ innings and allowed three earned runs on three hits and two walks in Game 1. The lefty also blasted his first career homer, a two-run shot in the second inning that accounted for the Mets’ other runs.
Peter O’Brien and Isaac Galloway hit consecutive homers against Matz in the second. Overall, Matz has surrendered 24 homers in 27 starts this season.
“The long ball has been killing me this year,” Matz said. “The righties, I have just been leaving the ball up to them and it seems like it’s been hurting me this year. But after the two homers I kind of feel like I settled in and my stuff wasn’t as crisp today as it has been, but I was able to kind of work around it.”
