NEW YORK (Interstat) — Christian Scott pitched five strong innings and the New York Mets used a three-run fourth inning to beat the Miami Marlins 6-1 on Saturday evening at Citi Field.

Scott, a rookie right-hander, allowed five hits and one earned run while striking out eight batters en route to his first major league victory. He threw 79 pitches, 52 for strikes, and retired nine of the last 10 batters he faced. The 25-year-old improved to 1-0 on the season.

Miami starter Tyler Phillips took the loss, dropping to 0-1. The right-hander went five innings, surrendering six hits and three earned runs with two strikeouts. Phillips issued one walk and was charged with the decisive runs in the fourth inning.

The game was scoreless through three innings as Scott and Phillips traded zeros. Miami threatened in the top of the third when Xavier Edwards singled and Liam Hicks singled to put runners at first and third with one out, but Otto Lopez flied out to right field to end the inning.

New York broke through in the bottom of the fourth. After Bo Bichette grounded out, Juan Soto drew a walk. Jared Young followed with a single to center, putting runners at first and third. Mark Vientos then doubled sharply to left field, scoring Soto and Young and giving the Mets a 2-0 lead. After A.J. Ewing grounded out, Marcus Semien singled to center to drive in Vientos, making it 3-0. Vidal Bruján grounded out to end the inning, but the damage was done.

Miami answered in the top of the fifth. Christopher Morel drew a leadoff walk, moved to second on a flyout by Joe Mack, then advanced to third on a groundout by Edwards. Liam Hicks singled to right field, scoring Morel and cutting the Mets’ lead to 3-1. The Marlins stranded two runners later in the inning when Lopez lined out sharply to center.

The Mets restored their three-run lead in the bottom of the sixth. Jared Young led off with a solo home run to right field, his first of the season. Young finished the game 2-for-4 with two runs scored and two RBIs. The homer pushed the lead to 4-1.

New York added two more runs in the seventh. Hayden Senger led off with a solo homer to left-center field, also his first of the season. Carson Benge followed with a double, his second of the game, and Bo Bichette walked. Juan Soto singled to center, scoring Benge and moving Bichette to second. Young flied out and Vientos grounded into a forceout to end the inning, but the Mets led 6-1.

Scott exited after the fifth inning with the 3-1 lead. He was followed by a parade of Mets relievers who combined to allow zero earned runs over the final four innings. Huascar Brazobán struck out three in a perfect sixth inning. Austin Warren allowed one hit while striking out two in a scoreless seventh. Cionel Pérez struck out one in a perfect eighth, and Devin Williams struck out one in a perfect ninth to close out the victory.

For Miami, William Kempner pitched a scoreless eighth inning, allowing no hits and striking out none.

The Mets outhit the Marlins 10-6. Senger went 1-for-3 with a home run and an RBI. Vientos doubled and drove in two runs. Benge had two doubles. For Miami, Hicks was 2-for-4 with an RBI. Edwards singled twice.

The game was played before an announced crowd of 38,552 and lasted 2 hours, 25 minutes.

The victory boosted New York’s record to 25-33, while Miami fell to 26-33. The Mets have won four of their last five games against the Marlins, including Friday’s 9-7 victory. The two teams conclude their four-game series Sunday.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Miami 4, New York 2. Interstat’s ELO system had projected the Mets with a 53.30 percent probability to win. New York had been installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of minus-1.5. The total score of 7 went over the over-under line of 7.5.