The New York Mets scored early and often, and Jon Niese pitched six strong innings, as the Mets snapped a five-game skid, taking down the Miami Marlins by a score of 7-3 in the series opener at Citi Field.
The Mets jumped all over Miami early with four hits in the first inning, capped off with a two-run shot by Scott Hairston that would give the Mets a 3-0 lead. A wild second inning, highlighted by a throwing error and a wild pitch that allowed Niese to score, would prove enough, though the Mets would net two more insurance runs in the later innings.
Trailing 6-1, Miami would mount a rally off Niese in the sixth, stringing together two runs on three hits and a walk, but Niese was able to get Carlos Lee to pop out to first and strike out Rob Brantly to end the rally. Bobby Parnell and Jon Rauch slammed the door on the Marlins in the final innings.
The win keeps the Mets out of the NL East cellar, as the two teams resume the series tomorrow. Mark Buehrle takes the hill for Miami against R.A. Dickey, who will look to boost his Cy Young case.
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