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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME LOG
NEW YORK (AP) -- The Mets went from playing long ball to little
ball, yet the result was still the same: another New York win.
One night after hitting a season-high five home runs, the Mets
rode the pitching of Glendon Rusch, three RBI singles and a pair of
run-scoring outs to their sixth straight win, 5-2 over the Florida
Marlins on Tuesday night.
"You can't rely on the home run to be your offense," Mets
manager Bobby Valentine said. "We put together a nice attack with
a lot of different guys. It's a good sign."
And it's coming at the right time. New York moved within two
games of Atlanta in the NL East -- the closest the Mets have been
since April -- with a four-game showdown between the teams beginning
Thursday at Shea Stadium. The Braves lost 6-4 at Montreal.
"This gives us a lot of momentum with a big series coming up,"
Rusch said. "We have a big game tomorrow and hopefully we can ride
that into the Braves series."
With Mike Piazza and Robin Ventura -- their two leading home run
hitters -- getting the night off, the Mets were unable to extend
their club record by scoring at least nine runs for a fifth
straight game.
But with Rusch (6-5) staying in front of hitters and moving the
ball around, New York didn't need to rely on its offense. The
left-hander allowed two runs and five hits -- including three to
Mark Kotsay -- in an efficient 7 2-3 innings. He walked none and
struck out five to improve to 5-1 in his last seven starts.
"He threw strikes, mixed up his pitches and looked like he was
in command out there," Valentine said. "He never caved in. He
gave us a chance and the offense came through."
John Franco came on with runners on first and second and two
outs in the eighth and allowed an infield single to Cliff Floyd
before striking out Preston Wilson. Franco ran off the mound in
excitement after preserving the lead.
"He threw five quality pitches," Valentine said. "That saved
the game for us."
Armando Benitez pitched the ninth for his 18th save in 21
chances.
The teams combined for six runs in the fourth inning, with four
scoring on productive outs. Florida went up 2-0 in the top half on
sacrifice flies by Wilson and Mike Lowell. The Mets answered with four in their half against Jesus Sanchez (4-7).
"It's part of the growing pains that we have right now,"
Florida manager John Boles said. "When you go ahead, you want to
come back and shut them down."
Derek Bell led off with a double and walks to Edgardo Alfonzo
and Todd Zeile loaded the bases. Jay Payton hit a sacrifice fly
with Bell scoring on a collision with catcher Mike Redmond. Benny
Agbayani followed with an RBI single, Todd Pratt had a run-scoring
groundout and Joe McEwing capped the inning with an RBI single.
"We're in a good little groove right now," Payton said.
"Everybody's contributing. We're getting production up and down
the lineup. It probably won't last the whole season, but we'll
enjoy it while it's here."
Melvin Mora hit a leadoff double in the seventh and scored on
Alfonzo's single to make it 5-2.
Sanchez allowed five runs, six hits and five walks in 6 1-3
innings and is winless in nine starts. "He gave them too many good pitches to hit," Redmond said.
"His location wasn't great. But he really just had that one bad
inning."
Game notes
Ventura has a sore right shoulder and Piazza got a
scheduled day off. Pratt and McEwing, their replacements, each
drove in a run. ... Home plate umpire Ed Rapuano wore a
goalie-style mask. He appeared to blow a call in the first inning.
Mora was thrown out trying to score on a flyout to shallow left,
even though replays showed that Redmond missed the tag. ...
Sanchez, a former Mets prospect who was traded for Al Leiter,
dropped to 0-6 against New York. ... Florida won nine of 12 to
reach the .500 mark before losing the first two games of this
series. ... The Mets have 32 homers in their last 17 games. ...
Mora, filling in at shortstop for the injured Rey Ordonez, is
12-for-32 with seven extra-base hits the last seven games. Ordonez
had five extra-base hits in 45 games before breaking his left
forearm. Mora also made a diving stop in the third inning to rob
Luis Castillo of a hit.
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ALSO SEE
Baseball Scoreboard
Florida Clubhouse
NY Mets Clubhouse
Unlucky 14: Glavine's 13-game win streak vs. Expos ends
RECAPS
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