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Mets, Marlins conclude series in Florida

Sep 7, 2011 - 2:57 PM (Sports Network) - Forgive the Mets if they don't exactly savior their final scheduled game at Sun Life Stadium. Following last night's 12-inning victory, they would probably rather sleep in a little longer.

After ending late Wednesday morning, New York and the Florida Marlins get right back at it with an early evening finale of a three-game series.

After the start of Tuesday's game was delayed 74 minutes to rain, the Mets and Marlins battled it out for nearly 4 1/2 hours before Nick Evans drove in the go-ahead run with a single in the 12th frame en route to a 7-4 victory.

The Marlins, who are slated to move into a new ballpark for the 2012 season, lost for the fifth time in their last seven games versus the Mets and dropped to 28-43 at home this season. Today's encounter marks their final one of 2011 with New York.

Evans will look to make his case for a 2012 starting spot after going 3-for-6 with three RBI in last night's win.

"I still have a long way to go this year before I can exhale and go into spring training," Evans, who has 12 RBI in his past 13 games, said about fighting for a starting job next year.

Angel Pagan had three hits, including two doubles, drove in a run and scored twice as the Mets won for the ninth time in 12 games despite leaving 15 men on base and watching Bobby Parnell yield a game-tying two-run double to Mike Cameron with two outs in the bottom of the ninth.

Marlins starter Chris Volstad and New York starter Miguel Batista each pitched six innings.

"I was able to keep the team right there," Volstad said. "I threw well. It was a good battle tonight."

Florida, though, failed to win its fourth straight contest and will give young southpaw Brad Hand another look tonight. The 21-year-old will be making his 10th career start and is 0-2 in four games since picking up his first career victory on July 7, losing his last two outings.

A second-round selection in 2008, Hand dropped a 5-3 decision to the Phillies on Friday in his first major league start since Aug. 8. He yielded three runs over five innings, moving to 1-5 with a 4.23 earned run average.

Hand faced the Mets on Aug. 2, yielding two runs over five innings of a no- decision.

R.A. Dickey is looking to finish the season strong and the Mets knuckleballer seeks a third straight winning start tonight.

Dickey hasn't allowed more than three earned runs in eight straight outings, including Friday's win at Washington. He was charged with three runs on nine hits over six innings four days after he beat the Marlins with seven scoreless innings as part of a doubleheader.

The 26-year-old righty is 7-11 with a 3.60 ERA on the season and 4-2 with a 4.62 ERA lifetime versus the Marlins.