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Sanchez faces Martinez as Marlins try to keep playoff hopes alive

Sep 21, 2006 - 1:13 PM Florida (75-77) at NY Mets (92-60) 7:10 pm EDT

FLUSHING, New York (Ticker) - Anibal Sanchez looks to continue his hot second half as the Florida Marlins hold on to shrinking playoff hopes in the finale of a four-game series against the New York Mets.

Florida is 4 1/2 games behind the Philadelphia Phillies and Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League wild card race with only 10 games remaining.

Sanchez (8-3, 2.90 ERA) is 7-3 with a 2.27 ERA in 13 starts after the All-Star break, highlighted by the first no-hitter in the major leagues in two years in 2-0 win over Arizona on September 6.

The rookie hurler is 3-1 with a 1.74 ERA in four starts this month. In his last outing, Sanchez allowed two runs and eight hits in eight innings in a 2-1 loss to Atlanta.

He will be opposed by Mets ace Pedro Martinez (9-6, 4.03), who is making his second start since coming off the disabled list Friday. Coming off a strained calf, the future Hall of Famer struggled, allowing four runs and six hits in only three innings.

The 34-year-old Martinez has made only five starts since the All-Star break, and will look to get back to his old form. He has gone 4-6 since starting the season with a 5-0 record in April.

Dontrelle Willis tossed 8 1/3 effective innings and became the first pitcher in Marlins history to homer twice in a game as Florida snapped a four-game losing streak with a 6-3 victory over New York on Wednesday.

Florida has dropped four of its last six games. The Mets, who have won their first NL East Division title since 1988, have gone 3-3 over that same span.