Marlins Will Try To Rally Against Mets
NEW YORK (AP) -- As Wilmer Flores continued his recent turnaround, the New York Mets ended their longest home skid in nearly a month while evening up their series with the Miami Marlins.
Given the way Dillon Gee has fared against the Marlins, the Mets should have an opportunity to wrap up a fifth series win over their last six in Wednesday night's finale.
After going 0 for 18 during a four-game stretch, Flores is 8 for 15 with three homers, two doubles and 10 RBIs in his last four.
The middle infielder helped New York (73-79) snap a three-game skid at Citi Field on Tuesday with a career-best two home runs, three doubles and a career high-tying six RBIs in a 9-1 victory.
"I'm seeing the ball well right now," said the 23-year-old Flores, who is hitting .379 in eight career games versus Miami.
The Mets averaged 2.3 runs and hit .221 over a nine-game span before totaling 14 runs and 19 hits in the first two against the Marlins. Curtis Granderson had three hits Tuesday, while Lucas Duda and Ruben Tejada added two apiece.
Juan Lagares went 0 for 2 before leaving before the start of the fifth inning because of a hyperextended right elbow. The center fielder's status is uncertain as the Mets attempt to close out the homestand with a 6-4 record.
They appear to be in good hands on the mound with Gee (7-7, 3.80 ERA) seeking his fourth straight victory at Citi Field.
The right-hander also has a scoreless streak of 16 1-3 innings versus Miami. He's gone 3-0 with a 2.30 ERA in five starts against the Marlins after allowing three hits in eight innings of a 4-0 home win April 27 in his only meeting this season.
Following three consecutive quality starts, he wasn't as sharp Friday when he gave up three runs and a season-high nine hits over 5 1-3 in a 4-3 home win over Washington.
Now he'll face a Miami club that has dropped five of seven while totaling just six runs in those defeats. The Marlins (73-77) may be all but out of the playoff race, but they still have an outside chance to avoid their fifth straight losing season.
Henderson Alvarez (10-6, 2.81), who had been bothered by a left oblique strain, gave up one run over seven innings in a 3-1, 10-inning loss at Philadelphia on Friday in his first start since Sept. 1.
"I thought he looked good," manager Mike Redmond told MLB's official website. "His (velocity) was solid. I thought he gave us a great effort. He did everything he could to help us win that ballgame."
The right-hander had been 1-1 with a 7.36 ERA over a three-start stretch prior to being sidelined. He attempted to battle through the injury against New York on Sept. 1, but gave up four runs - three earned - over 2 1-3 innings in a 9-6 home win.
Alvarez went 2-0 with an 0.84 ERA in his first three starts against the Mets this season before surrendering 10 runs and 11 hits over 7 1-3 innings in his last two. He allowed a season-high six earned runs over five innings in a 7-1 road loss July 11.
Mets second baseman Daniel Murphy is 6 for 13 when facing Alvarez in 2014.
Granderson, however, hasn't fared as well with one hit in 14 at-bats, while Duda is 3 for 19 all-time in the matchup.
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