Robert has a 2-run single in the 8th to lift the Mets past the Marlins, 4-2

NEW YORK (AP) — Luis Robert Jr. had a two-run single to cap an eighth-inning rally in the New York Mets' 4-2 victory over the Miami Marlins on Thursday night.

Bo Bichette doubled off Michael Petersen (1-2) with two outs, and Carson Benge singled and swiped second to set up Robert’s hit — just his fourth in 29 at-bats since he returned to the Mets on July 20 following a three-month stint on the injured list.

Brooks Raley (5-2), an impending free agent who is a candidate to be traded by the last-place Mets before the deadline Monday, got five outs in the seventh and eighth.

Devin Williams earned his 16th save by working around Heriberto Hernandez’s leadoff walk in the ninth.

Francisco Lindor laced a run-scoring single in the sixth for the Mets, who have won four of five — just the third time in the last two months they’ve won at least four times in a five-game span.

Kyle Stowers and Jakob Marsee each went deep for the Marlins, whose three-game winning streak was halted. Miami, which lost 12 straight prior to sweeping Philadelphia this week, slipped 2 1/2 games behind the idle Phillies and Arizona, who occupy the final two NL playoff spots.

Mets starter Nolan McLean gave up two runs and struck out six in 6 1/3 innings. He has allowed two earned runs or fewer 10 times in his last 11 starts.

The Marlins’ Eury Pérez allowed two runs (one earned) with six strikeouts in six innings. He didn’t allow a hit until Marcus Semien singled with two outs in the fifth.

The start of the game was delayed 66 minutes by rain.

Marlins RHP Janson Junk (4-6, 4.89 ERA) was set to oppose RHP Freddy Peralta (5-9, 4.99 ERA) on Friday night in what will likely be his final start for New York.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

New York Mets pitcher Nolan McLean hands the ball to interim manager Andy Green as he leaves during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins Thursday, July 30, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

New York Mets' Devin Williams pitches during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins Thursday, July 30, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

New York Mets' Luis Robert Jr. (88) celebrates with teammates after a baseball game Miami Marlins Thursday, July 30, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

New York Mets' Luis Robert Jr. gestures to teammates after hitting a two-run single during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins Thursday, July 30, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

New York Mets' Luis Robert Jr. hits a two-run single during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins Thursday, July 30, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

KUMAMOTO, Japan (AP) — The death toll climbed to 34 from a powerful earthquake in southwestern Japan that set off an explosion at a mall, toppled a factory chimney and flattened homes, the Kumamoto prefectural government said Friday.

The magnitude 7.1 earthquake hit Japan’s southern main island of Kyushu on Tuesday.

Officials said 34 deaths had been confirmed as related to the disaster, with one more death still under investigation. Dozens of people were injured.

More than 3,500 homes were still without electricity, according to Kyushu Electric Power Co. Authorities said more than 9,000 people were staying in shelters, where power sources were being added to provide air conditioning.

In the days since the quake, concerns have grown about illness, including from the sweltering heat. Temperatures Friday were due to rise to 36 C (97 F) in Kumamoto city, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency, after stifling 35 C (95 F) heat on Thursday.

Searchers continued to work in the Kumamoto area on Friday, including at the site of the collapsed Aeon Mall shopping center in the town of Kashima, where some of the most serious damage was recorded. The complex was bustling with thousands of people when the quake happened.

The company said about 3,000 shoppers were evacuated to a parking lot before an explosion happened in another part of the mall, where some staff remained working. The mall’s second floor collapsed, trapping people.

At the site, seven people were confirmed dead and 11 had been rescued, Japanese Chief Cabinet Sec Minoru Kihara told reporters in Tokyo on Friday. Authorities didn't say how many were still missing.

Meanwhile, a search operation had ended at a Nippon Paper Industries factory in the Yatsushiro area where a chimney collapsed in the quake, Kihara said. Searchers rescued 11 people there, while nine others were confirmed dead.

Associated Press senior producer Mayuko Ono in Tokyo contributed to this report.

Electric poles are seen fallen over rail tracks in Hikawa, southern Japan, Thursday, July 30, 2026, two days after an earthquake hit the area. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae)

Vehicles are crushed under collapsed buildings in Yatsushiro, southwestern Japan, Wednesday, July 29, 2026, the day after an earthquake hit the area. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae)

Police units gather in the parking lot before beginning operations at Aeon Mall Kumamoto in Kashima, Kumamoto Prefecture, Friday, July 31, 2026. (Kyodo News via AP)