Starling Marte sat out the All-Star Game last week to make sure he was fully healthy and rested for important games in the second half of the season.
Tuesday night would certainly fall into that category, and the Mets right fielder delivered.
Marte went 2-for-4 with a home run and a double to fuel the Mets’ offense in a 6-3 win over the Yankees at Citi Field.
Since coming back from the All-Star Game in Los Angeles — Marte was a late withdrawal from the National League roster but still attended the event — the veteran has recorded three multi-hit efforts in four games.
Marte left a July 9 win with left groin tightness that forced him to miss the next four games. But he has not shown any signs of it lingering, going 11-for-29 with six runs scored in six games since.
On Tuesday, Marte came through with his most important swing of the night in the first inning. After the Yankees had taken a 2-0 lead on back-to-back home runs in the top of the first, Marte provided a quick answer, homering off left-hander Jordan Montgomery. It got the Mets — and the home crowd — right back into the game and sparked a four-run inning.
Marte then led off the third inning by drilling a double to center field off Montgomery. He came around to score on a heads-up play, racing home after a throw to first hit off Francisco Lindor’s helmet and ricocheted into right field.