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Marlins-Mets Preview

May 30, 2009 - 11:21 PM By MATT BEARDMORE STATS Writer

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

New York's four-game winning streak and string of quality starting pitching performances are over.

John Maine will try to get the Mets back on track with another strong outing against the Florida Marlins.

The right-hander takes the mound Sunday afternoon at Citi Field where the Mets will try to avoid losing their second straight series at home to the Marlins.

After New York's starters went a combined 3-0 with a 1.88 ERA during the team's winning streak, Tim Redding yielded seven runs and eight hits over four-plus innings in a 7-3 loss Saturday.

It was the shortest outing for a Mets starter since May 2 when Oliver Perez lasted 2 1-3 innings in a 6-5 loss to Philadelphia.

"Even as professionals, there are days when you go out there and you are a little intimidated, because you know you don't have your quality stuff," said Redding, who may have lost his spot in the rotation as his ERA jumped to 9.20 in three starts.

Maine (4-3, 4.18 ERA), however, is 4-1 with a 2.49 ERA in eight career starts versus the Marlins. He allowed one run and one hit in a 7-1 win over Florida at Citi Field on April 27 before the Marlins won the final two games of the three-game set.

Maine is 3-0 with a 1.00 ERA in his last three home starts, including a 5-2 victory over Washington on Monday when he yielded one run and four hits over six innings.

He faces a Florida club that tagged the Mets (27-21) for 11 hits Saturday. Jeremy Hermida had four RBIs and led the Marlins with three hits, including an RBI single in the first inning and a three-run homer in the fifth that chased Redding.

Hermida is batting .319 (22 for 69) with two homers and 11 RBIs in 27 career games visiting the Mets. He has five hits in 16 at-bats against Maine.

Hanley Ramirez went 2 for 5, returning to the starting lineup Saturday for the first time since feeling tightness in his groin in Tuesday's 5-3 loss at Philadelphia. Ramirez has two homers lifetime against Maine.

Florida (23-27) looks to close a six-game trip with a winning record. Josh Johnson allowed two runs in seven innings Saturday - the seventh straight game Marlins starters have lasted at least five innings and yielded three runs or fewer.

Chris Volstad (4-3, 3.69) goes for his third straight victory. In his last start, the right-hander gave up three runs and six hits in Monday's 5-3 win over Philadelphia.

"He was throwing his curveball and pounding the strike zone," Marlins manager Fredi Gonzalez said.

Volstad has gone six or more innings in each of his last seven starts. He is 1-0 with a 0.73 ERA in two career starts against the Mets.

After being sidelined since April 15 with a strained muscle in his back, catcher Brian Schneider came off the disabled list Saturday and went 1 for 3 with a walk. Mets manager Jerry Manuel said Omir Santos is likely to start at catcher in the series finale. Santos homered and then had the game-winning hit Friday as New York defeated Florida 2-1 in 11 innings.

Gary Sheffield, Luis Castillo and David Wright should be back in the lineup Sunday, while Carlos Beltran is day to day after leaving Saturday's game with a stomach virus.

Mets outfielder Fernando Martinez singled in the third inning for his first major league hit and added an RBI double in the fifth.