The Mets have accomplished something they hadn't done since mid-June last year: win a road series. The Mets trounced the Marlins in Miami, Fla., 9-2, with some great pitching from R.A. Dickey and timely hitting.
The key to this game was Dickey, as he continued right where he left of last season, pitching six exceptional innings, allowing one unearned run on five hits and three walks, while striking out seven. Only the first inning was completely clean -- which was most important after the Mets took an early 3-0 lead -- but Dickey was able to limit the enough baserunners each inning and get key outs. If the Mets can get even close to the pitcher they got last year, they will have themselves a very solid No. 3 starter.
While Dickey was excellent, the Mets hitting made the Marlins pay: Mets were outhit 11-8, but Marlins pitchers walked nine batters and the team made three errors in the field. Javier Vazquez was atrocious on the mound, lasting just 2 1/3 innings, giving up six hits, seven runs (four earned) and walking five.
Receiving the start in left field in place of Jason Bay, Willie Harris began the scoring in the first inning when he homered to right field, driving in Jose Reyes. Lucas Duda, starting in right, would then ground into a fielder's choice to give the Amazin's an early 3-0 lead they would never relinquish.
The Mets then put up a four-spot in the third inning: Ike Davis hit a homerun, then Daniel Murphy hit a ground rule double to drive in Angel Pagan, who had walked, and Dickey grounded into a fielder's choice to bring home Duda and Murphy, which was aided by a Marlins throwing error.
Reyes finished the game 2-for-6 with a run and Davis went 2-for-5 with a homerun and two runs.
Chris Capuano was able to get some work in today, and he wasn't too sharp, allowing a run on three hits and a walk in two-thirds of an inning. DJ Carrasco (one-third), Tim Byrdak (one) and Taylor Buchholz (one) rounded out the relief outings for the Mets.
The Mets will enjoy a day off tomorrow before heading to Philadelphia to take on the Phillies for a three-game series.