Mets Vs. Marlins: Dillon Gee Looks To Break Mets' Slide

(Sports Network) – Texas-born right-hander Dillon Gee can stop the bleeding for the suddenly skidding New York Mets tonight when they finish off a three- game home series with the visiting Florida Marlins at Citi Field.

The Mets dropped their second straight to the Marlins and fourth in a row overall on Tuesday, falling back to .500 for the season when, after surrendering a 10th-inning grand slam to Mike Stanton in Monday’s series- opening loss, Jason Isringhausen allowed two runs in the top of the ninth as New York fell, 4-3.

The Marlins loaded the bases with one down against Isringhausen (2-2) before pinch-hitter Bryan Petersen dribbled a grounder toward second. Justin Turner fielded the ball and made an errant throw to first baseman Lucas Duda, allowing the tying and go-ahead runs to cross the plate.

Steve Cishek (2-1) threw two scoreless frames to earn the win, and Leo Nunez recorded his 31st save of the season after entering in the ninth with a runner aboard and closing the door.

Omar Infante belted two home runs for the Marlins, who moved to .500 for the first time since June 12.

The loss ruined a strong outing from starter Chris Capuano, who allowed two runs on four hits over six innings and scored a run.

Jose Reyes added a home run for the Mets.

New York and Florida are now tied at 55-55, good for third in the National League’s East Division, albeit 15 1/2 games behind the first-place Philadelphia Phillies.

The Mets and Marlins are each 7 1/2 games behind the Atlanta Braves, who currently lead the NL’s wild card race.

Gee, who won two of five starts in a late-season debut in 2010, picked up his 10th victory of 2011 on July 29, when he tossed 6 2/3 innings of four-hit ball in an 8-5 defeat of the Washington Nationals.

It was his second win in a row and third start without a loss since a 6-0 defeat to the Dodgers in Los Angeles on July 7.

Gee faced the Marlins two starts ago in Miami and got a no-decision after allowing seven hits and three runs in five innings of a game the Mets ultimately lost, 5-4.

It was his first career meeting with Florida.

The Mets are 13-7 in the 20 games he’s pitched.

The Marlins send Clay Hensley to the mound for his fourth start and 24th appearance of 2011.

The 31-year-old Texan was exclusively a relief pitcher with Florida last season, making nary a start in 68 appearances while posting a 2.16 earned run average over 75 innings.

He came in from the bullpen in his initial 20 outings of 2011, then transformed into a starter for a 4-1 defeat of the Mets on July 18 – allowing just one hit in five scoreless innings with three strikeouts.

Hensley’s started twice since, allowing a combined nine hits and five runs in 12 innings in a no-decision against the Mets on July 23 and a 5-0 loss in Atlanta on July 29.

Lifetime against New York, over 17 games and four starts, he’s allowed 14 earned runs in 34 2/3 innings while going 2-2 with two saves, a blown save and four holds.

The Marlins are 7-3 versus the Mets this season.

Mets-Marlins Score: Jason Isringhausen, Justin Turner Push Marlins To 4-3 Victory

The New York Mets continue to find ways to lose, this time with a throwing error in the ninth inning on a routine play that allowed two runs to score and give the Marlins a 4-3 victory.  After winning five in a row, the Mets have now dropped four in a row, including the last two in heartbreaking fashion to Florida.

Omar Infante accounted for the only offense for the Marlins over the first eight inning with his second and third home runs of the season in the first and fifth inning, respectively.

Jose Reyes got the Mets on the board in the third inning with a home run to left field.  A David Wright ground out and a Lucas Duda sacrifice fly was the only other scoring New York was able to muster against five Marlins pitchers.

The Mets were 0-6 with runners in scoring position, but still held a 3-2 lead going into the ninth inning.  That's when Jason Isringhausen and Justin Turner combined to throw the lead -- and the game -- away.

Isringhausen started off by walking the leadoff hitter, Logan Morrison.  After he got the dangerous Mike Stanton out on a pop up to shallow right field, Mike Cameron's single put runners on first and third.  The closer then hit John Buck to load the bases, setting the stage for the play of the game.

Pinch hitter Bryan Petersen hit a chopper to Turner in the baseline between first and second.  The second baseman froze, then threw wildly to first base, allowing Morrison and Cameron to score and hand Florida the lead.

After the game, Mets manager Terry Collins made it clear Turner should have not only acted quicker, but also should have never thrown to first.

"He's gotta try for a double play there," Colins said.  "We've got to go to the plate or go to second."

Asked if Turner could have had a play at the plate, the manager wasn't in a hurry to defend the second baseman.

"Maybe, it wasn't a big high hop, it was a fairly high hop."

The Mets find themselves back at .500, as they continue to show why they were never a threat to make any real run at a playoff spot.  New York will try to bounce back Wednesday against the Marlins at 7:10 with Dillon Gee on the mound.

Mets Vs. Marlins: With Capuano On The Mound, Mets Look To Snap Three-Game Skid

(Sports Network) – The Florida Marlins try to get to .500 for the first time since June 12 this evening when they play the second test of a three-game series with the New York Mets at Citi Field.

Florida pulled within a game of the break even mark on Monday, as Mike Stanton hit a grand slam in the top of the 10th inning, propelling the Marlins to a 7-3 win.

The Marlins used three straight singles from Gaby Sanchez, Hanley Ramirez and DeWayne Wise to load the bases, and Stanton cracked a 3-2 cutter from Jason Isringhausen over the left field wall for his second career grand slam.

“I was just trying to make sure I put the ball in play,” Stanton said. “With a guy on third and less than two out, you have to put the ball in play, especially in that situation.”

Omar Infante collected three hits, including a triple, and Sanchez added a pair of RBI for the Marlins, who have won seven of their last nine games.

Leo Nunez (1-2) gave up the lead in the ninth, but picked up the win courtesy of Stanton’s moonshot. He also absorbed his fourth blown save of the season.

Isringhausen (2-1) was tagged with the loss for the Mets, who have lost three consecutive games.

“When I made good pitches I got people out, when I made bad pitches I didn’t,” Isringhausen said of his rough outing. “It was just one of those nights.”

Lucas Duda and Jason Bay smacked home runs for New York, while David Wright was 0-for-3 in his first game at home since May 8. Wright is still batting .426 with 12 RBI in 11 games since coming off the disabled list.

Tonight, the Marlins turn to lefty Brad Hand, who is 1-3 with a 2.73 ERA. Hand did not get a decision on Thursday against Washington, as he allowed just a run and three hits, but walked six batters in 3 2/3 innings.

Hand has never faced the Mets, who will pin their hopes on lefty Chris Capuano.

Capuano improved to 9-10 on the year on Thursday despite a shaky outing that saw him allow six runs and eight hits in 5 1/3 innings. He also walked three batters and saw his ERA rise to 4.51.

Capuano lost to the Marlins the last time he faced them and is 4-4 with a 3.60 ERA in 11 games, 10 of which have been starts.

The Marlins are 6-3 versus the Mets this season.

Who's Better? David Wright Or Jose Reyes

For complete Mets news and analysis, check out SB Nation's Amazin' Avenue.

Mets-Marlins Score: Duda's Blast Ties Game In 9th, But Stanton Wins It In 10th WIth Grand Slam, 7-3

Flushing, NY (Sports Network) – Mike Stanton hit a grand slam in the top of the 10th inning Monday to give the Marlins a 7-3 win over the Mets in the opener of a three-game series at Citi Field.

Florida used three straight singles from Gaby Sanchez, Hanley Ramirez and DeWayne Wise to load the bases, and Stanton cracked a 3-2 cutter from Jason Isringhausen over the left field wall for his second career grand slam.

Omar Infante collected three hits, including a triple, and Sanchez added a pair of RBI for the Marlins, who have won seven of their last nine games.

Leo Nunez (1-2) gave up the lead in the ninth, but picked up the win courtesy of Stanton’s moonshot. He also absorbed his fourth blown save of the season

Isringhausen (2-1) was tagged with the loss for the Mets, who have lost three consecutive games.

Lucas Duda and Jason Bay smacked home runs for New York.

Mets Vs. Marlins: Mets Look To Get Back On Winning Track

(Sports Network) - Right-hander Mike Pelfrey tries to reverse a career's worth of misfortune against Florida tonight when the New York Mets host the visiting Marlins for the first of three games at Citi Field.

The teams are two games apart in both the National League East race and the early stages of the wild card chase.

The Mets, two games above .500, trail first-place Philadelphia in the East by 13 1/2 games and are 7 1/2 behind the Atlanta Braves for the wild card. Florida is two games below .500 and faces deficits of 15 1/2 and 9 1/2 games, while sitting just 1 1/2 games up on Washington in the division's cellar.

New York took a tough loss on Sunday when Rick Ankiel went to third on a pitch in the dirt and scored easily on Ian Desmond's chopper over the mound in the bottom of the ninth, lifting Washington to a 3-2 win.

The rally that came after New York tied the game at 2 in the top of the ninth on Scott Hairston's two-out solo homer off closer Drew Storen.

Hairston had two homers in the game for the Mets.

New York's Bobby Parnell (3-3) took the loss while getting only one out in the bottom of the ninth.

On Sunday in Atlanta, Ricky Nolasco pitched into the seventh inning to help Florida avoid the sweep with a 3-1 win over the Braves.

Nolasco (8-7) gave up 12 hits, but allowed just one run while striking out four to win his second straight start as the Marlins won for the sixth time in their past eight games.

New York's Pelfrey, who stands 6-foot-7, has won just once in 15 career starts against the Marlins while posting a bloated 5.29 earned run average in 85 innings. He allowed four runs on five hits in six innings in Miami on July 22, escaping with a no-decision in a 7-6 Mets win.

Pelfrey went on to a win in a subsequent start at Cincinnati, where he went the nine-inning distance and allowed just two runs on seven hits in an 8-2 defeat of the Reds.

The win was his first since a 6-0 triumph over the Los Angeles Dodgers on July 5.

For the Marlins, surging righty Javier Vazquez aims for a fourth win in five starts.

The Puerto Rican was 4-8 on the season after a 1-0 loss at Oakland on June 28, but has subsequently gone 3-1 in five starts, including a 7-5 win at Washington on July 27 - the day after he turned 35 years old.

Vazquez is an even 10-10 in 26 career meetings with the Mets.

Florida is 10-11 in his 21 starts this season.

The Marlins are 5-3 versus the Mets this season.