• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Mets look to deal Marlins playoff hopes crushing blow

Aug 29, 2008 - 10:38 AM NY Mets (74-60) at Florida (68-66) 7:10 pm. EDT

MIAMI (Ticker) -- The New York Mets say they are over their epic collapse of last season. New York will get a chance to exorcise some demons against a team that played a huge role in the historic meltdown when it faces the Florida Marlins on Friday.

New York suffered a heartbreaking, 8-7, 13-inning loss to the Philadelphia Phillies on Tuesday that was eerily reminiscent of last season when it coughed up a seven-game lead with 17 games to play.

However, the Mets bounced back with a 6-3 victory on Wednesday, and took a one-game lead in the National League East when Philadelphia (73-61) lost to Chicago on Thursday.

"We're fighting some demons at the same time," manager Jerry Manuel said. "We've got to face that as well. Demons of the past, the rascals that have been hanging around for a whole year. Every time we lose a game like (Tuesday), it's a reminder of that."

The Mets went 1-6 vs. sub-.500 teams in the final week of last season, including the dagger - an 8-1 loss to the Marlins on the season's final day that sealed their fate. Carlos Delgado, who has four homers in the last three games, said there are no lingering affects.

"Whatever happened last year, it happened," Delgado told the team's official web site. "We put it behind us. I think we are definitely in a different frame of mind. We are not thinking about September '07. We are thinking about, 'Let's go out and play baseball right now.'"

Now the Mets have a chance to exact some revenge by essentially ending the Marlins' surprising run. Florida, which has lost six of 10, trails the Mets by six games.

Oliver Perez (9-7, 4.00 ERA) takes the ball for the Mets. He is 3-0 with a 2.16 ERA in four starts against the Marlins this season. The lefthander is starting in place of John Maine, who is on the disabled list with a bone spur in his shoulder.

Florida, which has lost seven of 12 meetings in the season series, sends rookie Chris Volstad (4-3, 3.42), to the hill. The 21-year-old righthander is 0-1 with a 4.76 ERA in his last two outings. He has never faced the Mets.