NEW YORK (AP) -- Wilmer Flores homered twice and drove in six runs for the second time this year, Ruben Tejada capped a four-run fourth inning with a two-run double, and the New York Mets routed the Miami Marlins 9-1 on Tuesday night to end a three-game skid.
Just hours after Commissioner Bud Selig said he was impressed with the manner in which the Mets were rebuilding, the 23-year-old Flores hit a three-run shot in the fifth and a two-run drive in the seventh - both off reliever Brad Penny.
 
Flores homers twice in Mets 9-1 win over Marlins
 
 
He also had an RBI double in the fourth as the Mets scored their most runs at home since they tallied 11 against the Phillies on July 30. Making a push to prove he deserves a starting role next season, Flores is 8 for 15 with three homers and 10 RBIs in his last four games.
Bartolo Colon (14-12) bounced back from his shortest outing of the year to pitch 7 2-3 innings for New York, allowing one run and a season-high 12 hits. The only extra-base hit was a double to Reed Johnson, who had three hits. He struck out seven without a walk.
The Mets and Marlins each have 73 wins in the competition for third place in the NL East. New York has two more losses with 10 to play. Miami, which outhit the Mets 13-12, has 12 games remaining.
The Mets must go 8-2 to avoid their sixth straight losing season.
Curtis Granderson had an RBI single among his three hits, and the Mets handed Nathan Eovaldi (6-12) his sixth straight losing decision over seven starts dating to Aug. 13. Eovaldi yielded six runs and six hits over 4 2-3 innings.
Flores connected off Penny two batters after Eovaldi was pulled in the fifth. Flores also had six RBIs on June 2 at Philadelphia.
 

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