Ten days ago, the concept of the New York Mets regaining sole possession of the NL East in 2015 looked to be a mere fantasy, a delusion shared by only the most diehard of Mets fans. That night, outfielder Michael Conforto was promoted from Double-A Binghamton to save a lackluster offense that trotted utility players John Mayberry Jr. and Eric Campbell into the middle of its batting order the night before. Needless to say, the Mets lost that night and fell to only a game above the .500 mark.

However, on Monday night at Marlins Park before paid attendance of 23,119, this one time delusion became a reality, as the Mets’ newest acquisitions shined yet again in the team’s fourth consecutive victory, a win that can best be classified as an annihilation of the fourth-place Miami Marlins.

After an 8:05 start Sunday night for a nationally televised ESPN broadcast, the Mets traveled to Miami on a red-eye flight, such that the team only arrived in the city shortly after 4 A.M. Monday morning.

But the Mets showed no signs of fatigue on the field, as they got on the scoreboard early. In the top of the second inning, after Kelly Johnson reached base on a Casey McGehee error, Travis d’Arnaud doubled to right in his first hit since returning from the disabled list Friday night. Rookie outfielder Michael Conforto, who had recently been demoted to Triple-A Las Vegas, only to be immediately recalled after a pinched nerve landed reserve outfielder Kirk Nieuwenhuis on the DL, seized his opportunity by knocking in both baserunners with his first major league home run, a 435 foot shot to right field.

Yoenis Cespedes, acquired from the Detroit Tigers at the trade deadline, started in center field for the second consecutive night. His breakout offensive showing arguably upstaged Conforto’s milestone, as he tied a Met record with three doubles on the night, driving in four runs in the process. Both of his RBI doubles were hit with authority, each one may have been a long ball in a cozier ballpark than Marlins Park.

Strong performances at the plate were commonplace for the Mets Monday night. Of the evening’s starting lineup, only Lucas Duda failed to record a base hit. He earned the infamous “Golden Sombrero,” striking out four times, although he did draw two walks. Otherwise, Curtis Granderson extended his on-base streak to 18-straight games with three singles on the night, coming around to score twice on doubles by Cespedes.

Wilmer Flores, who received the start as shortstop Monday, earned yet another standing ovation in his first at-bat from the smattering of Mets fans throughout Marlins Park. He doubled home Yoenis Cespedes in the top of the fifth. Even the evening’s starting pitcher Bartolo Colon singled up the middle in the top of the seventh.

Although the Mets’ run scored tally was the highlight of the evening, Colon, the 42-year-old sage of their otherwise young rotation, played a pivotal role in keeping the Marlins off the board. He held the Marlins to only one earned run on seven hits over eight innings, displaying his trademark control by walking none and striking out five. His command and velocity seemed to improve throughout the game. This performance followed one of his most disappointing starts of the season, earning him his 10th win on the season and his first since June 12th. Colon’s record improves to 10-10, while his ERA falls to 4.72.

Mets’ rookie lefty Sean Gilmartin pitched a 1-2-3 ninth in a mop-up appearance.

Marlins starter Tom Koehler suffered his second consecutive disappointing start. After surrendering five earned runs in six innings Wednesday night against the Washington Nationals, he fell behind in counts often, lasting only 4.1 innings Monday against the Mets allowing six earned runs on seven hits, walking two and striking out six. Koehler’s earned-run-average in three starts versus the Mets this season now stands at a dismal 14.73. However, his solid performance against the rest of the league keeps his record a respectable 8-8 with an ERA of 3.71 this season.

Relievers Andre Rienzo and Chris Reed did not fare any better. Rienzo, the young Brazilian, struggled with control through his 1.2 innings, walking two and throwing three wild pitches, including two within one at-bat, which allowed Yoenis Cespedes to score from second base in the sixth.

Marlins pitching prospect Brian Ellington made his major league debut in a minimal-pressure situation in the top of the ninth, getting around a hit batsman, a walk, and a bloop single to strike out Lucas Duda and keep the Mets off the board in his inning of work.

For the Marlins, only Christian Yelich offered a noteworthy showing at the plate, collecting two doubles and a single off Bartolo Colon. Yelich drove in the Marlins’ only run when he doubled home Ichiro Suzuki, who singled in the prior at-bat.

The Mets (56-50; first place) move into sole possession of first place in their division for the first time since June 19th, following a loss by the Washington Nationals at the hands of the Arizona Diamondbacks, despite a ninth-inning rally by the Nats, while the Marlins (43-63; 13 GB) fall to 20 games under .500.

On Tuesday, New York will look to extend their winning streak to five games, while the Marlins look to avenge their recent defeat. It will be a battle of lefties as reliable veteran Jonathon Niese (5-9, 3.63 ERA) starts for the Mets, while reliever Brad Hand (1-2, 5.12 ERA) will move into the rotation and start Tuesday for Miami, following the trades of starters Mat Latos and Dan Haren.