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Wright returns to lift Mets over Marlins

Jul 23, 2011 - 6:40 AM Miami, FL (Sports Network) - For the second time this week the New York Mets got a key component of their team back, and for the second time that translated into a win.

Third baseman David Wright returned to play for the first time in over two months and went 2-for-5 with two RBI and two runs scored as the Mets took a 7-6 win over the Florida Marlins in the opener of a three-game series.

Wright had been on the disabled list since May 16 with a stress fracture in his lower back.

"I've missed everything about being out there," said Wright. The camaraderie, the guys in the dugout, being up by one in the ninth inning and sweating it out. I had fun out there tonight and it's good to be out there."

Tuesday saw shortstop Jose Reyes return to the team after a stint on the DL with a strained left hamstring and he guided the team to a win over St. Louis.

Daniel Murphy went 2-for-4 with two RBI and a run scored for New York, which has won three of its last four to move a game over .500. Bobby Parnell (3-1) got the win as he worked 1 1/3 innings and gave up an unearned run.

Emilio Bonifacio went 1-for-3 with two walks and two runs scored and extended his hitting streak to 21 games. Gaby Sanchez and Mike Stanton each hit solo home runs for the Marlins, who have lost four straight. Edward Mujica (8-3) was handed the loss as he gave up two runs over 1 1/3 innings.

"We did a bunch of things out there, stealing bases, move runners, hit-and- run, took some chances and it paid off," said Florida manager Jack McKeon. "But, once again, it came down to pitching and we weren't able to hold them."

Neither starter factored into the final decision as Mike Pelfrey lasted six innings for New York and gave up four runs on five hits with four walks and Chris Volstad was touched for four runs -- three earned -- on eight hits with three walks over five innings for Florida.

The Mets held four separate leads in this game, but kept allowing the Marlins to get back into the contest.

With the score tied at 5-5 to start the eighth, Turner worked a walk off of Mujica and, after Carlos Beltran flied out, Wright ripped a double to the corner in right. Murphy followed with an RBI double for a 7-5 lead.

The extra run would prove fortunate as Greg Dobbs singled home Mike Stanton in the bottom of the eighth. Florida, though, stranded men at the corners as Bonifacio looked at strike three.

Jason Isringhausen came on for the ninth and worked a 1-2-3 inning, getting DeWayne Wise to fly out to deep left for his second save of the season.

The Mets got three runs in the first for the early lead. With one out, Turner singled and Beltran followed with a walk. Wright then hit an opposite-field double in his first at-bat back in the lineup and Murphy followed with an RBI single. Angel Pagan's sacrifice fly capped the scoring in the frame.

Bonifacio wasted no time extending his hitting streak as he led off the bottom of the first with a single. He then stole second and moved to third on an Omar Infante fly out before scoring on a Logan Morrison single.

The second inning saw Stanton work a full count before ripping an opposite field home run to make it a 3-2 game.

In the third, the legs of Bonifacio tied the game with Florida. After he led off the inning with a walk, Infante singled to the hole between short and third and Bonifacio raced to third. He made a hard turn around the bag and spotted a lackadasical throw from Lucas Duda back to the infield. Bonifacio took advantage and raced home before the throw to the plate.

The fourth inning saw the Mets take the lead back as Reyes led off with a single and moved to second when Turner reached base as Bonifacio bobbled his grounder. Beltran then hit a sharp grounder to first that skipped over the head of Gaby Sanchez and Reyes came around to score for a 4-3 lead.

Sanchez tied the game in the sixth with his 14th home run of the year then the teams exchanged runs in the seventh on sacrifice flys from Ronny Paulino and Morrison.

Game Notes

The Mets announced on Friday that the August 20 game at Milwaukee has been moved from 4:10 p.m. (et) to 7:10 p.m. (et)...Also on Friday, the Mets claimed outfielder Mike Baxter off waivers from San Diego and designated first baseman Nick Evans for assignment...Bonifacio is batting .380 (30-for-79) during his streak...Beltran has reached base safely in 28 straight games...Each team has won three times during the season series.