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Dickey tosses shutout as Mets down Marlins

Sep 1, 2012 - 4:01 AM Miami, FL (Sports Network) - R.A. Dickey's magical season continued as the New York Mets took the opener of a three-game set against the Miami Marlins, 3-0.

Dickey (17-4) matched the Cincinnati Reds' Johnny Cueto atop the National League leaderboard in wins and tossed his NL-best third shutout and fifth complete game.

"When you look what he's done the entire year, he's racked up numbers against every team in baseball," Mets manager Terry Collins said. "No matter who he's faced, he's pitched great."

The knuckle-baller gave up five hits and struck out seven with three walks. He lowered his earned run average to 2.63 in the process.

"He was good," Marlins manager Ozzie Guillen said. "I think it was the best I've ever seen him throw."

"Tonight I didn't have a great feel for (the knuckle ball) at the beginning of the game," Dickey said. "As the night went on I was getting big swings and movement, like I'm accustomed to getting."

Ike Davis knocked in three runs and provided the big blow for the Mets' offense, crushing a two-run home run in the seventh inning to send the Mets to their fifth win in six games.

Nathan Eovaldi (4-10) took the loss despite matching a career best with seven innings pitched. He gave up three runs on four hits and a walk.

The Mets jumped ahead with a run in the fourth inning. Ruben Tejada and Daniel Murphy singled to start the inning and put runners on the corners. After David Wright failed to get the run home, Davis delivered a sacrifice fly to center field to put the Mets on top.

New York added to its lead in the seventh inning. Wright started the frame with a base hit before Davis hammered a hanging curve over the right-field fence to expand the lead to three.

"Just a curveball I saw pretty well," Davis said. "I usually don't hit those very well so it's kind of surprising that I hit it."

The Marlins had their best opportunity to score in the eighth inning. Dickey walked Austin Kearns to start the inning and gave up a one-out single to Justin Ruggiano.

That set up the middle of Miami's lineup with runners in scoring position, but Jose Reyes, who struck out with two outs and a runner in scoring position in the third, grounded out and Carlos Lee flew out.

Dickey retired the Mets in order in the ninth to finish off his ninth-career complete game and fifth shutout.

Game Notes

The Mets lead the season series, 6-4...New York has homered in seven straight games...The Mets went hitless in their only at-bat with a runner in scoring position and are 8-for-their-last-58 in those situations...Dickey became the first Met to throw five complete games in a season since Dwight Gooden threw seven in 1993...Dickey went seven innings and allowed less than two runs for the 15th time this season, most in the NL...Miami second baseman Donovan Solano went 0-for-4, ending his hitting streak at 12 games.