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Vazquez reaches milestone as Marlins blank Mets

Aug 31, 2011 - 5:46 AM Flushing, NY (Sports Network) - Javier Vazquez whiffed Lucas Duda to pick up his 2,500th career strikeout and end the sixth inning. Then he helped the Marlins put together the winning rally.

The pitcher's bunt single was part of a five-run seventh inning Florida used to beat the Mets, 6-0, at Citi Field.

Vazquez (8-11) threw seven scoreless innings, allowing only three hits and a walk to pick up his first victory since July 27. He needed six strikeouts to become only the 30th pitcher in major league history to reach the milestone, and got it when he punched out Duda with a low changeup.

"I didn't even know I was close to 2,500," a modest Vazquez said after the game. "When I got to the dugout the guys were like 'congratulations, congratulations' and I was like 'thank you, bye.'"

Logan Morrison hit a two-run single for Florida, which was swept by the Mets in Monday's doubleheader.

Mets starter Mike Pelfrey (7-11) held the Marlins off the scoreboard for six innings, but couldn't get an out in the seventh and was charged with four runs.

"I didn't throw as many secondary pitches for strikes as I would have liked to or as I needed to," Pelfrey said. "That ended up being the difference."

New York managed only six hits as its four-game win streak came to an end.

The Mets had the only good early scoring opportunity, putting runners on the corners with one out in the first. But Vazquez used consecutive fly balls to end the threat, and neither team seriously threatened to break the scoreless tie until the sixth, when Florida loaded the bases with two outs.

The Marlins came up empty after Gaby Sanchez popped up, but they didn't waste another chance.

Mike Cameron doubled and John Buck walked to start the seventh before Vazquez bunted his way on base thanks to botched execution by the Mets.

Third baseman David Wright rushed in to field the ball and began to wheel around, as though he would throw to third to get the lead out. But he held the ball and instead turned to first, only to find there was nobody there to catch the ball.

Justin Turner had run in from the position to potentially field Vazquez's bunt.

The play set the stage, and a series of ground balls put the Marlins' decisive rally in motion.

Emilio Bonifacio plated a run with a single through the right side of the infield, chasing Pelfrey for Tim Byrdak in the process. Greg Dobbs then grounded out to second to bring in another run, and Byrdak intentionally walked young slugger Mike Stanton to load the bases again.

But Morrison's ground ball to the right side was deflected by a diving Nick Evans, allowing two runs to score for a 4-0 lead.

Sanchez's single off Ryota Igarashi later in the inning put Florida up by five.

Vazquez set New York down in order in the seventh to conclude his outing, and the Marlins bullpen managed to get through a dangerous eighth. The Mets loaded the bases with two outs against Edward Mujica, but Michael Dunn fanned Duda to end the threat.

Stanton blasted his 31st homer of the season in the ninth.

Game Notes

Florida improved to 35-33 on the road, but is only 25-41 at home...Stanton finished 3-for-4...Wright and Josh Thole both had two hits for the Mets...Mets shortstop Jose Reyes stole his 35th base of the season, and first since returning from the disabled list Monday.