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Dickey set to face Marlins at Citi Field

Sep 22, 2012 - 12:24 PM (Sports Network) - R.A. Dickey enters Saturday tied for second in the National League in victories, while pacing the league in ERA. Yet, the New York Mets knuckleball specialist has fallen on hard times recently by losing back-to- back starts.

Dickey tries to snap the personal skid this afternoon in the continuation of a three-game series against the Miami Marlins.

Dickey has pitched seven frames in each of his last two appearances, losses to the Phillies and Nationals. In 13 career games, including 11 starts, against the Marlins, Dickey is 9-2 with a 2.81 ERA.

Mark Buehrle, who has won four of his last five decisions, counters for Miami.

The lefty is 2-0 with a 2.75 ERA in his last three road starts. He's 0-2 with a 3.92 ERA in three career starts against the Mets, all of them coming this season.

The Mets have been downright putrid since the All-Star break, but last night they were able to win for just the second time in 13 games overall. They also snapped a nine-game skid at Citi Field thanks to a 7-3 victory in the opener of this three-game series.

The Mets had scored three runs or less in 16 consecutive home games, a franchise record, but last night received a two-run homer, a triple, and three RBI from Scott Hairston.

Jon Niese (12-9) pitched 6 1/3 effective innings, giving up just three runs on seven hits. He struck out seven and walked two. Though Niese won 11 games in 2011, Friday's victory puts him at 12 wins for the first time in his five- year career.

Ike Davis knocked in two runs for New York, one coming on a solo shot in the seventh, and scored twice. Daniel Murphy additionally scored two times and added an RBI for the Mets, who snapped a five-game losing streak.

"I've said all year that they're a tremendous bunch of guys. It's a great clubhouse, and they just came out today and played like I know they can," Mets manager Terry Collins said.

Miami's starter, right-hander Jacob Turner (1-3), in just his fifth start as a Marlin since coming from Detroit via trade in August, threw 115 pitches in just five innings, giving up eight hits and six runs -- three earned. He struck out three hitters and walked one.

Donovan Solano had two RBI for Miami, which has now lost two in a row and is just 3-7 in its last 10.

"The way we play the first three innings, it was embarrassing," Marlins manager Ozzie Guillen said. "I think if I was pitching in that game, I might fight with somebody."

Miami is 4-9 against the Mets in 2012, including a 2-5 mark at Citi Field. The Mets have won the last five meetings.