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Dickey tries to grab share of wins lead against Marlins

Aug 31, 2012 - 3:02 PM (Sports Network) - Veteran right-hander R.A. Dickey tries to gain a share of the National League lead in victories tonight when the New York Mets visit the Miami Marlins for the opener of a three-game series at Marlins Park.

Dickey earned victory No. 16 in his last start on Aug. 25 against Houston after scattering five hits and allowing a single run in seven innings in a 3-1 defeat of the Astros.

The 37-year-old from Nashville is second in the league in wins, trailing Cincinnati's Johnny Cueto, who earned his 17th triumph of 2012 earlier this week.

Dickey last faced the Marlins on Aug. 9 in New York and was a 6-1 winner following a complete-game gem in which he struck out 10, walked none and allowed five hits and a single run.

He's 8-3 in 13 road starts this season with a 3.10 earned run average in 87 innings.

Miami opposes him with 22-year-old righty Nathan Eovaldi, who starts for the seventh time since joining the Marlins earlier this season.

The Houston native was drafted by the Dodgers in 2008 and reached the majors with them last season, going 1-2 with a 3.63 ERA in 10 appearances - including six starts.

He was 1-6 in 10 starts with them to start 2012, then headed east to Miami in the July 25 deal that sent Hanley Ramirez to the Dodgers.

He's alternated wins and losses in six straight appearances with his new team, beating San Diego, the Mets and Colorado while losing to Atlanta, Philadelphia and the Dodgers.

In the game against New York, he allowed four hits in five scoreless innings on the way to a 13-0 triumph on Aug. 8.

On Thursday in Philadelphia, Kevin Frandsen contributed an RBI single among four hits and scored the go-ahead run as the Philadelphia Phillies avoided a three-game sweep with a 3-2 win against the New York Mets .

Jon Niese (10-8) allowed three runs on nine hits over six innings for New York, which had its winning streak snapped at four games.

"He threw the ball fine," Mets manager Terry Collins said. "He had the flu three days ago, so I thought he pitched very well."

On Wednesday in Miami, Bryce Harper had the first multi-homer game of his career - hitting two - and the Washington Nationals snapped a five-game losing streak with an 8-4 win over the Marlins.

Jacob Turner (0-2) gave up five runs on six hits in five innings to take the loss, striking out six without a walk.

"I made mistakes and they capitalized them," Turner said. "I have to be more consistent."

Donovan Solano went 3-for-4 for Miami.

The Mets won five of the first nine games between the teams this season, though the Marlins took two of three in their last series - from Aug. 7-9 at Citi Field. The teams split their 2011 series, nine games apiece.