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Marlins seeking fifth straight win

Apr 11, 2009 - 4:16 AM By Santosh Venkatarman Stats Senior Writer

New York Mets (2-2) at Florida (4-0), 6:10 p.m. EDT

MIAMI (AP) -- The Florida Marlins continue to get big performances from newcomer Emilio Bonifacio.

Bonifacio looks for his fifth multihit effort in as many starts Saturday night when the Marlins try to remain the lone unbeaten team in the majors as they continue a three-game home set with the New York Mets.

Florida is off to the first 4-0 start in franchise history after a 5-4 victory over New York (2-2) on Friday, when Jorge Cantu's single with two outs in the ninth inning scored Bonifacio with the winning run.

"Man, there's a lot of excitement out there," Cantu said. "We're having fun. We're off to a great start, and hopefully it will set the tone for the rest of the season."

Bonifacio scored his third run of the game after getting aboard on an infield hit with one out. Florida's new leadoff man is batting .579 (11-for-19) with nine runs scored to his point.

"If he doesn't get better, we're going to send him to Albuquerque," Marlins manager Fredi Gonzalez said.

Bonifacio easily outshone Mets leadoff hitter Jose Reyes on Friday, as the shortstop went 0-for-3 with two walks. New York stranded 14 runners, leaving at least one aboard in every inning.

The Marlins will see a face from their past on the mound against them Saturday. Livan Hernandez will make his Mets debut after winning a competition for the final spot in the rotation in the spring.

New York signed Hernandez to a minor league deal on Feb. 14 to audition for the fifth starter slot that manager Jerry Manuel called "wide open." Hernandez was in contention with Tim Redding, young left-hander Jon Niese and former All-Star Freddy Garcia.

The resilient Hernandez earned the job by posting a 2.25 ERA in six spring appearances. Though his fastball isn't what it once was, the Mets like his experience and poise.

"He has a good presence about him on the mound, in the dugout," Manuel told the Mets' official Web site. "It's like he brings a different energy for us."

Hernandez spent last season with Minnesota and Colorado, going 13-11 with a 6.05 ERA in 31 starts. New York will be his seventh major league team.

The right-hander, who spent his first four seasons with Florida and was a linchpin of the Marlins' 1997 championship club, has pitched very well as a visitor in Miami. Hernandez is 5-4 with a 2.98 ERA in 13 career road starts against the Marlins.

Florida starter Ricky Nolasco (1-0, 7.50 ERA) will get the ball again after he did enough to win his first outing. He allowed five runs over six innings in a 12-6 victory over Washington on Monday, but did not issue a walk.

"That's how you can limit the way runs are scored, don't walk guys," Nolasco told the Marlins' official Web site. "(Walks) change the whole aspect of the game. When you limit walks, you can give up one-out, two-out singles, and still get out of it."

The right-hander is 2-5 with a 6.27 ERA in 11 career appearances against New York, including nine starts. He went 1-2 with a 3.82 ERA in five starts versus the Mets in 2008.

Mets third baseman David Wright is hitting .480 (12-for-25) in his career against Nolasco.