NEW YORK — Reaching the halfway point of a crucial 10-game homestand on Tuesday night, the Mets won for the fourth time in five tries, and the eighth time in their last 10 games overall. The 7-4 victory over the Marlins snapped New York’s tie with Miami for second place in the National League East and forged a new tie with the Pirates, 2 1/2 games behind the Cardinals in the race for the second wild-card spot.
A team that has not had a winning month since going 15-7 in April can finish August at 15-14 with a win on Wednesday, then try its luck in September against a soft schedule that includes seven games against the Phillies, six against the Braves and three each against the Reds and Twins.