New York earns doubleheader sweep

NEW YORK — Michael Conforto drove in three runs, Jason Vargas pitched six effective innings and the Mets downed the Miami Marlins, 5-2, on Thursday night to sweep a doubleheader.

Conforto clubbed a hardhit double in front of the visitors’ bullpen in rightcenter field in the fifth inning, scoring two runs and putting New York in front, 3-2. The hot-hitting outfielder added an RBI single in the seventh.

In the first game, Conforto and Todd Frazier hit back-to-back solo homers with two outs in the ninth to give New York a 4-3 win. The Mets had been held to just two hits up to that point, including starter Steven Matz’s first career home run.

The Mets have hit 14 homers in their last seven games. It was the fourth time they’ve swept a doubleheader at Citi Field, which opened in 2009, and the first time in seven years.

Rookie Tomas Nido got New York on the board in the fifth inning of the nightcap with his first big league homer, a solo shot into the left field seats off Jeff Brigham. Vargas and Amed Rosario followed with consecutive singles, chasing Brigham (0-2) for reliever Jarlin Garcia.

Vargas (6-9) allowed two runs on three hits, walked two, hit a batter and struck out seven. The veteran lefthander is 4-1 with a 3.09 ERA over his last six starts.

Seth Lugo hurled two scoreless innings in relief, fanning the first five Marlins he faced. Robert Gsellman worked around a twoout walk in the ninth for his 11th save.

Brigham led off the third with his first big league hit, a single up the middle. Miguel Rojas followed with his 11th homer, driving a 2-1 fastball into the lower deck in left-center field to give Miami a 2-0 advantage.

The Marlins managed just one more hit the rest of the game.

The opener was the first time in franchise history that the Mets hit back-toback homers for a walk-off win, according to Elias. The Mets have five game-ending homers in this otherwise forgettable season.