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May 30, 2009 - 3:30 PM By NICOLINO DIBENEDETTO STATS Writer

Florida (22-27) at New York (27-20), 1:10 p.m. EDT

The New York Mets have won six of their last seven games, and Omir Santos' play has been vital.

One day after driving in the winning run in extra inning, Santos will try to help the Mets win a fifth consecutive game on Saturday when they face the Florida Marlins in the middle game of their series.

Santos was recalled from Triple-A Buffalo on April 17 after catcher Brian Schneider was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a strained back muscle. He was expected to provide occasional relief for Ramon Castro, New York's backup behind the plate for five years. However, the 28-year-old rookie is hitting .276 with three homers and 17 RBIs over 27 games since being recalled.

Santos came through again Friday, hitting a walk-off single in the 11th inning after connecting for his second homer in four games to lead the Mets (27-20) to a 2-1 win over Florida (22-27).

"I just go every day and play hard," said Santos, who managed only one hit in 11 games with Baltimore last year before New York signed him to a minor league contract in January.

Santos is 7 for 21 (.333) with two homers and five RBIs over his last five games - all wins for New York. His other homer was a two-run shot in the top of the ninth to help the Mets rally for a 3-2 win at Boston on Saturday.

Santos' play, along with the expected return of Schneider from the DL, forced New York to trade Castro to the Chicago White Sox for right-hander Lance Broadway following Friday's victory.

"Santos will be on this team, no doubt about it," Mets manager Jerry Manuel said. "He's a major league hitter. The surprising thing is he has hit and hit well. It looks as if there is no panic or anxiety when he is in those situations."

The Mets will give the ball to Tim Redding (0-1, 6.75 ERA), still seeking his first win as he makes his third start of the season. The right-hander, who began the season on the disabled list due to fatigue in his throwing shoulder, got charged with a 12-5 loss at Boston on Sunday, when he yielded six runs, eight hits and four walks in 4 2-3 innings.

Redding is 4-4 with a 4.98 ERA in 11 career starts versus Florida.

The Marlins hope Josh Johnson (3-1, 2.67) can continue his dominance of the Mets, against whom he is 5-0 with a 1.97 ERA in seven career starts.

The right-hander did not get a decision versus New York on April 29 after allowing three runs and nine hits in six innings of Florida's 4-3 win. That came after beating the Mets with a five-hitter in a 2-1 victory April 12.

Johnson battled through a callus on the middle finger of his right hand on Sunday, giving up three runs and six hits with seven strikeouts in seven innings of a 5-4, 11-inning win over Tampa Bay.

"We'd be working on it the whole game. It's there," Johnson told the Marlins' official Web site of the callus. "We just have to work on it the days I'm not throwing. It's been there about three starts or so. I wouldn't really consider it a problem."