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Dickey pitches Mets over Marlins in rubber match

Apr 3, 2011 - 11:13 PM Miami, FL (Sports Network) - Willie Harris and Ike Davis both homered, as the New York Mets spoiled Javier Vazquez's Florida debut with a 9-2 victory in the rubber match of a three-game series.

Harris and Davis each scored twice for the Mets, who did not win their first road series last season until June 11-13 when they swept the Orioles in Baltimore in a three-game set. In fact, New York was 5-17-4 in road series in 2010.

Knuckleballer R.A. Dickey (1-0) was solid in a six-inning start, allowing one unearned run on five hits. He also struck out seven batters. The 36-year-old had his best season last year, posting an 11-9 record and a 2.84 ERA in 27 games (26 starts).

"He's legitimate. I think he proved that last year," Mets manager Terry Collins said of Dickey.

Omar Infante and Gaby Sanchez each drove in a run for the Marlins, who had 11 hits.

Vazquez (0-1) lasted just 2 1/3 innings, allowing seven runs -- four earned -- on six hits. The right-hander also walked five batters. The 34-year-old, who went 10-10 with a 5.32 ERA in 31 starts (26 games) for the Yankees last year, signed a one-year, $7 million deal with the Marlins in the offseason.

The Mets got to Vazquez early and often. Jose Reyes got New York's three-run first inning started with a double to right. Harris knocked in Reyes with a blast over the wall in right. Davis' single and Angel Pagan's walk put men on first and second with one out. Lucas Duda seemed to ground into a double play, but Hanley Ramirez's throw to first was off the mark. Davis scored on the error to make it a 3-0 game.

New York tacked on four more runs in the third. Davis got things going with a one-out homer to right-center field. Pagan walked and Duda singled prior to Daniel Murphy's RBI ground-rule double to center. Josh Thole was intentionally walked to load the bases, and that brought an end to Vazquez's brief Florida debut.

Edward Mujica, who played for the Padres the past two seasons, took over on the mound. Dickey hit a grounder to third for Emilio Bonafacio, whose throw home was way off the mark. A pair of runs scored on the play to make it 7-0. Mujica got out of the inning without any further damage.

The Marlins got on the board in the home half of the third, but it was just one run. Infante's sacrifice fly scored Scott Cousins.

Sanchez's RBI single in the seventh cut the gap to 7-2. The Mets, though, added two more runs in the eighth to put the game away. With the bases loaded and two outs, Pagan walked to force in a run. Pinch-hitter Scott Hairston then reached base on a fielder's choice to plate another run.

"This club has been built on pitching and defense," Marlins manager Edwin Rodriguez said. "We failed in both areas today."

Game Notes

The Marlins were without outfielder Mike Stanton (hamstring)...Vazquez made his first NL start since September 30, 2009...The Mets left 11 men on base, compared to 14 for the Marlins.