"Javier Vazquez has given strong indication that this will be his final major-league season. If that proves to be the case, the Marlins might wish for him to reconsider. After all, Vazquez has been their best pitcher for a couple of months.

On Monday, Vazquez passed the great Christy Mathewson on the all-time strikeout list in the Marlins' 9-3 victory over the Mets at Sun Life Stadium. Vazquez rode the wave of a 15-hit attack as the Marlins recorded their first three-game winning streak since the second week of August.

"If I do go out, that's actually how I want to go out, pitching good," Vazquez said. "I wouldn't want to go out pitching poorly."

Vazquez improved to 9-11 after holding the Mets to a run over seven innings.

Over his past 14 starts, dating to June 21, Vazquez has gone 6-4 with a 2.47 ERA. It's a stunning reversal from his early season woes. On June 16, his record stood at 3-7, his ERA was a robust 6.85, and there was whispering that he might be finished. "