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Marlins-Mets Preview

Jun 4, 2010 - 4:10 AM By ANTHONY GIORNALISTA STATS Senior Writer

Florida (27-27) at New York (27-27), 7:10 p.m. EDT

A blowout loss to the New York Mets was a terrible way for Florida to start the season. Since then, the Marlins have had little trouble against their NL East rival.

The Marlins, kicking off a nine-game road trip, look to win their seventh straight against the struggling Mets in the opener of a three-game series Friday night.

Florida (28-27) is coming off a 3-2 win over Milwaukee on Thursday night that capped an inconsistent homestand. The Marlins won four of five after losing four of the first five.

They displayed some of the resiliency that helped them bounce back from a 7-1 loss to the Mets (27-27) on April 5, the teams' season opener. Florida concluded that series with two wins, then swept a four-game set with New York from May 13-16.

This is the Marlins' longest winning streak against the Mets since a 10-game run in 2004. Now New York has to contend with one of the majors' hottest pitchers.

Anibal Sanchez (5-2, 2.89 ERA) has won four straight starts while posting a 1.33 ERA with 28 strikeouts in 27 innings. The right-hander gave up three hits and struck out seven in 6 2-3 innings of a 1-0 victory over Philadelphia on Sunday.

His win streak began in a 7-2 victory over the Mets on May 14, when Sanchez gave up four hits and struck out seven in seven innings. He's 3-3 with a 3.92 ERA in seven starts against the Mets.

New York will give the ball to R.A. Dickey (2-0, 2.84), who has given some stability to a rotation that had been in flux. The knuckleballer has made three starts since being called up from the minors and has won the last two, including Sunday's 10-4 victory over Milwaukee as he gave up four runs in seven innings.

"He battles, he really battles," manager Jerry Manuel told the Mets' official website. "I think he deserves another shot, no doubt about it. In all of his starts, he's given us a chance to win. When you get that, you've got to keep going with it."

Dickey is 1-1 with an 8.22 ERA in one start and two relief appearances versus the Marlins.

New York failed to take advantage of an outstanding start from Johan Santana on Wednesday, losing 5-1 to San Diego in 11 innings to conclude a 2-4 road trip. The Mets now return to Citi Field, where they have won five straight and 15 of 19.

New York, though, will likely be without second baseman Luis Castillo (heel) for the second straight game, and he may be headed to the disabled list. Alex Cora, hitless in his last 10 at-bats, will likely start in his place.

The Mets moved Daniel Murphy from first base to second at Triple-A Buffalo with hopes of calling him up to help at that position, but he's now out for the season due to a torn MCL he suffered trying to turn a double play Wednesday night.

The 25-year-old Murphy, who hit 12 homers for the Mets last season, had been out this year because of a sprained right knee.