METS LEAVING

For a mid-May game against the last-place Marlins, this felt like an important game for the Mets, particularly because they had to see what would come of Jason Vargas’ fourth start. Another poor outing for the southpaw, whom the Mets signed to a two-year, $16 million deal, would’ve been disastrous. But Vargas finally turned things around Monday night in Flushing, tossing five shutout innings in the Mets’ 2-0 victory over the Marlins. The Mets (24-19) have won four straight.

Vargas already made immense progress when the game was just minutes old by working a perfect first inning. He had allowed multiple first-inning runs in each of his first three starts: Four at San Diego, three vs. Atlanta and two at Cincinnati. Vargas gave up two hits and a walk while striking out seven. His overall ERA is still ugly at 9.87.

Immediately after Mickey Callaway pulled Vargas it seemed like it was going to be an adventure to get the final 12 outs. Paul Sewald entered for the sixth and after retiring the first two batters gave up a single and walk. Jerry Blevins then walked Justin Bour before A.J. Ramos was summoned and struck out pinch-hitter Derek Dietrich to keep the Marlins (17-30) off the board.

With one out in the seventh, pinch-hitter J.B. Shuck hit a hard chopper to Ramos with Miguel Rojas running on the play. Ramos still was able to make the turn to nab Rojas at second and Amed Rosario turned the double play to end the inning and keep the Mets up 1-0.

Wilmer Flores’ pinch-hit RBI single in the seventh doubled the Mets’ lead. Seth Lugo threw a scoreless eighth before Jeurys Familia earned his 13th save.

PLAY OF THE GAME

After Starlin Castro’s two-out triple in the eighth, Brandon Nimmo made a diving grab on Brian Anderson to end the inning and preserve a 2-0 lead.

TURNING POINT

Asdrubal Cabrera drove in Rosario with an RBI single in the third inning to give the Mets a 1-0 lead, which turned out to be all they’d need.

STAR OF THE GAME

Vargas, who earned his first win as a Met; he made 2 starts for the Mets back in 2007 and went 0-1.

NEXT GAME METS VS. MARLINS

Tonight, 7:10, at Citi Field, Caleb Smith (2-5, 4.22) vs. Zack Wheeler (2-3, 5.92), TV: SNY

Getty Amed Rosario and Michael Conforto celebrate Mets’ fourth win in a row, a 2-0 shutout of the Marlins at Citi Field that is started by Jason Vargas (opp. page), who delivers best start since returning to Mets, allowing just two hits and no runs with...