Melendez walk-off homer lifts Mets over Marlins 9-7

MJ Melendez hit a two-run, walk-off home run in the 10th inning Friday night, lifting the New York Mets to a 9-7 victory over the Miami Marlins at Citi Field. The Mets squandered multiple four-run leads before securing the win in extra innings on Fireworks Night.

The victory marked the second consecutive win for the Mets, who had lost five straight games prior. The Marlins, who swept the Mets in a three-game series in Miami last weekend, have now lost three in a row.

New York built an early 4-0 lead in the first inning against Marlins starter Max Meyer, who entered the game unbeaten. A.J. Ewing and Brett Baty each delivered two-run singles. Mark Vientos extended the lead to 5-1 with a 445-foot home run in the third inning. The Mets later pushed their advantage to 7-3.

Melendez, who entered the game as a pinch-hitter in the seventh inning, contributed a sacrifice fly to extend the lead to 7-5. However, the Marlins rallied to tie the game in the eighth when Owen Caissie hit a two-run homer off Mets reliever Tobias Myers.

In the 10th, with one out and automatic runner Vidal Bruján on second base, Melendez fell behind 0-2 in the count before connecting on a 98 mph fastball from...