Marlins start slow, but slam Mets

Baseball Betting Lines

08/26/2010 - Flushing, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Hanley Ramirez had three hits, including a home run, scored three times and drove in a pair as Florida stormed back from an early deficit to dismantle New York, 11-4, in the rubber match of a three- game set.

Logan Morrison had two hits, walked twice, scored three times and added two RBI while Dan Uggla added two hits and an RBI for the Marlins, who grabbed the last two contests and have claimed seven of their last nine.

Anibal Sanchez (11-8) went the requisite five frames to grab the win after yielding four runs on nine hits and five walks while striking out three for Florida, which leads the season series, 10-6.

Jonathon Niese (8-6) started strong but wound up suffering the loss after allowing seven runs on five hits and three walks while fanning eight for the Mets, who fell to 5-13 in series deciding games.

Carlos Beltran singled with two outs in the home first and scored when David Wright followed with a two-run blast to left field to get the scoring started.

New York added to its lead in the second when Luis Castillo started the inning with a walk, advanced on a Niese sacrifice bunt and moved to third on a base hit by Jose Reyes, who then left the game after aggravating his right oblique strain. Angel Pagan followed with a double that scored Castillo and sent pinch-runner Ruben Tejada to third base. However, Sanchez avoided further trouble when Beltran lined into an inning-ending double play.

Wright and Ike Davis walked to open the third before Jeff Francoeur singled to center to plate Wright to extend the lead to 4-0. Josh Thole was then hit by a pitch to fill the bases for Castillo, who flied out. Niese struck out and Tejada bounced out as the Mets squandered an opportunity to pad their lead.

The Marlins got on the board in the fourth when Morrison led off with a double and scored when Ramirez roped a line drive home run to left.

Florida sent 11 men to the plate and scored seven times in the sixth to take the lead for good. Morrison was hit by a pitch to start the frame, advanced to second on a Ramirez base hit and scored to narrow the lead to 4-3 when Uggla doubled. Gaby Sanchez walked to load the bases for Mike Stanton, who struck out on three pitches.

Wes Helms was then robbed on a tremendous running catch by Francoeur in right- center as Ramirez tagged and scored to tie the game. Brett Hayes then sliced a ground-rule double just inside the right-field line to plate Uggla with the go-ahead run and chase Niese from the hill.

Elmer Dessens took over and gave up an infield hit to pinch-hitter Donnie Murphy that scored Sanchez to push the visitors lead to two. Cameron Maybin followed with a single off the glove of a diving third baseman Wright that brought home Hayes to make it 7-4. Morrison then clubbed a two-run double to the alley in right to complete the uprising.

Pedro Feliciano started the ninth on the hill for New York, but couldn't make it through the inning. A walk to Morrison and singles by Ramirez and Uggla filled the bases for Sanchez, who singled to center to plate Morrison and chase Feliciano from the mound.

Ryota Igarashi took over and got Hector Luna to bounce into a fielder's choice that brought home the last run of the night.

Game Notes

Florida has allowed 97 home runs this season, the second fewest in the major leagues behind only Atlanta's 93...The Marlins are 27-12 against left-handed starting pitchers...Sanchez evened his career mark at 4-4 in nine starts against the Mets...Stanton went 0-for-4 and is mired in a 1-for-32 slump while Morrison extended his hitting streak to six games...The Marlins and St. Louis will make up their August 8 postponement on September 20 in Miami at 3:10 p.m. (et)...Niese is 1-3 in 4 outings against Florida...The Mets are 5-6 in rubber games at home this season...Wright has hit safely in six in a row and 12 out of 13...Davis extended his hitting streak to six games, as well...New York extended its player development contract with Savannah in the South Atlantic League through 2012.