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Struggling Perez takes mound as Mets try to avoid sweep

Aug 12, 2007 - 1:41 PM Florida (55-62) at Ny Mets (64-52) 1:10 pm EDT

FLUSHING, New York (Ticker) - Oliver Perez has struggled of late, much like the New York Mets.

Perez (10-8, 3.31 ERA) takes the mound as the Mets try and avoid a three-game sweep at the hands of the Florida Marlins on Sunday.

The Mets have lost three straight and five of their last seven games. New York is just 2 1/2 games in front of Atlanta and three games ahead of Philadelphia in the National League East.

Perez, who has allowed 15 runs and 20 hits in his last 17 innings, will try and put an end to both his and his team's recent woes. The lefthander allowed six runs and 10 hits in five innings against Atlanta in a 7-3 loss on Tuesday.

The good news for New York and Perez is that Rick VandenHurk (3-3, 7.39) has not been much better. VandenHurk has not won since July 17 and has allowed 14 runs in his last 11 2/3 frames. On Tuesday, Philadelphia rocked the righthander for six runs and five hits in 2 1/3 innings.

Josh Willingham had a big hand in Saturday's win, blasting his first career grand slam off Guillermo Mota to give the Marlins a 5-3 lead in the sixth inning.