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Mets-Marlins Preview

May 14, 2010 - 4:03 AM By ANTHONY GIORNALISTA STATS Senior Writer

New York (18-16) at Florida (16-18), 7:10 p.m. EDT

The struggling Florida Marlins needed a wild pitch to score the game-winning run in the opener of their six-game homestand.

A matchup with Oliver Perez may give them even more opportunities to take advantage of wildness.

Patience at the plate may serve the Marlins well as they face Perez and the New York Mets on Friday night in the second of a four-game series.

On Thursday, Cody Ross scored from third base on a ninth-inning wild pitch by Fernando Nieve to give the Marlins a 2-1 victory. Florida (17-18) has won three of four despite batting .214 and averaging 3.0 runs.

It also was Florida's first win in four games at home, where it has been held to three runs or fewer in three straight contests. The Marlins have plated 28 runs in their last nine games.

Dan Uggla is expected to be back in Florida's lineup Friday after sitting out against ace Johan Santana. The two-time All-Star second baseman is batting .219 in 76 games versus New York (18-17).

Uggla, who is second on the club with six homers, is expected to bring additional power to the lineup. A sharp eye at the plate, though, may benefit the Marlins most against Perez (0-2, 4.50 ERA).

Perez continues to be plagued by control problems, walking a season-high seven and hitting a batter while giving up four runs in 3 1-3 innings of a 6-5 loss to San Francisco on Sunday. The left-hander has walked a team-high 25 in 30 innings.

Though Perez is winless in seven starts since Aug. 18, he will stay in the rotation according to manager Jerry Manuel.

"I am disappointed in myself," Perez said. "I've got to be better than that. I know what I have to do."

However, Perez has enjoyed some success against the Marlins in Florida, posting a 4-0 record with a 2.25 ERA in his last six games. He's also walked only 15 in 36 innings over that stretch.

New York couldn't take advantage of a strong start from Santana and lost for the fourth time in five games. The Mets have the fewest road wins in the majors with four in 13 contests, and are averaging 3.6 runs and batting .208 away from home.

"We have to start swinging the bats," Manuel said. "We have to take note these next couple of days where we are as an offensive club. And if we continue to see the same thing, then I'm going to have to make some adjustments to the lineup."

Third baseman David Wright remains in a slump for New York, going 5 for 21 with 12 strikeouts over his last six games. His 46 strikeouts are second-most in the majors, one behind Arizona's Justin Upton.

Wright is 3 for 13 with five strikeouts against Anibal Sanchez (2-1, 4.08), who is slated to take the mound for the Marlins. He's 1-1 with a 2.70 ERA in his last four starts.

The right-hander, though, was also hurt by wildness Sunday, walking four and giving up two runs and six hits in 4 1-3 innings of a 3-2 loss to Washington.

Sanchez is 2-3 with a 4.22 ERA in six starts against the Mets.