Marlins Hook Mets

Ryan Dempster didn't expect to better his last outing, so winning was enough.

Dempster, coming off a one-hit shutout against the Mets, went 5 2-3 innings to giver Florida its third win in four games against New York, 6-4 on Friday night.

"You can only hold them scoreless for so long," said Dempster, who allowed four runs and 10 hits. "You can't really improve on the last one, so I'm happy to take the 'W.'

"I was hoping to shut them out again but I didn't really expect it," Dempster said.

Preston Wilson hit an RBI double in the third inning and a three-run homer off Glendon Rusch (1-4) in Florida's four-run fifth.

Wilson has seven homers, including three in the last three games. Derrek Lee also had a solo homer in the fifth to give Florida a 6-0 lead.

Rusch waited out a delay of more than a half hour before the start of the game when rain hit after he had warmed up.

"It was no different from any other night," Rusch said. "I went into the clubhouse. I just have to go out and make the pitches and I didn't do that tonight."

The Mets drew within two with four runs in the bottom of the fifth. Derek Bell had an RBI double, Mike Piazza hit a two-run homer, his ninth, and Robin Ventura followed with a solo shot, his eighth.

Armando Almanzar relieved Dempster with runners on second and third with two outs in the sixth inning. He struck out Ventura to get out of the jam. Antonio Alfonseca, the fourth Marlins pitcher, struck out the side in the ninth for his 12th save in 13 chances.

Dempster aided his own cause in the second inning when he doubled in a run with his second hit and first RBI of the season. Wilson gave the Marlins a 2-0 lead with an RBI double in the third.

Rusch allowed six runs and 12 hits in five innings.

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